#landerbiz, brought to you by the Lander Chamber of Commerce, shares the stories of the local movers and shakers of our Fremont County economy.
Written by Vince Tropea, Photographed by Carl Cote
(Lander, WY) – Opening a bookstore has been a longtime dream for Lander resident Jesi Crawford, and that dream came true on November 15 when the Indie Darling Bookstore had its official grand opening.
“Bookstores are magical places; opening Indie Darling grew out of a mix of personal love and community care,” Crawford shared with County 10. “I wanted to spend my days working with books, but also investing in literacy, curiosity, and connection in a tangible way.”
“A good bookstore isn’t only about commerce” Crawford added. “It invites discussion, learning, exploration, and joy. Building that kind of space here felt like a natural next step and a way to give back to a community that has shaped me.”
The local author section featured books from authors in Wyoming. h/t Carl Cote A new release table sat in front of the various fiction sections of Indie Darling. h/t Carl Cote New Indie Darling t-shirts were for sale on a shelf in the store. h/t Carl Cote The children’s section of Indie Darling features stuffed animals, childrens’ titles, and space for kids. h/t Carl Cote Customers perused their way through used books on the bottom shelves in Indie Darling. h/t Carl Cote Canvas Indie Darling book bags hung for sale in the store. h/t Carl Cote A wide range of new cook books were on the shelf in Indie Darling. h/t Carl Cote A book quilt made by the mother of the owner for the bookstore’s grand opening hung near the entrace of the store. h/t Carl Cote Two customers sipped on tea and read books on the comfy chairs in the book nook in Indie Darling. h/t Carl Cote
Crawford moved to Lander in 2008, and despite moving a few times since then, Lander has become her home.
“My dad was in the Army, so we moved often, and I never had one clear hometown”, Crawford explained. “I moved to Lander from Florida when I was 21 to attend CWC and to be closer to the mountains, and this town and community quickly felt like home. I moved away a few times through my 20s and 30s, but always made my way back here.”
Crawford says her goal in opening Indie Darling was to “build a space where people feel welcome to linger, talk about what they’re reading, discover something new, or bring their kids to explore.”
“I care a lot about strengthening reading and curiosity. That shows up in the books we choose, the events we want to host, and future plans for offering free literacy tutoring. I want the store to feel both warm and useful, like a spot that makes the town a little richer and a little more connected. If people start to think of Indie Darling as a place they trust and enjoy spending time in, then I’ll feel like I’m doing something worthwhile.”
Indie Darling carries a selection of new and used books (if they don’t have a book in stock that you would like to read, they can look into special ordering it for you from our publishers and distributors!), as well as gifts and merchandise that complement the store, which also features a tea counter run by Blue and White Tea Co., owned by Annelise Wright.
Crawford said having the Wright and the tea company in the store is another “dream come true.” She explained that Blue and White Tea Co.’s mission “to craft comforting tea experiences inspired by family heirlooms and traditions in hosting,” and “to nurture meaningful community connections through welcoming moments shared over tea,” perfectly aligned with the bookstore’s.
Fostering those community connections became official at the grand opening, where Crawford was genuinely overwhelmed with the turnout.
“There was a line around the block for the first couple of hours, and my husband, Justin, needed to stand outside the door as a bookstore bouncer because we could only have 50 people in the store at once,” Crawford shared. “It was wild; I cried happy tears. I’ve been working on this dream for two years now, with a lot of support from family and friends, and seeing people enjoying the space truly made every long week and late night worth it.”
Additionally, Indie Darling will host workshops, book clubs, events, and gatherings for the community.
Some of those upcoming events, include:
- Literary Rug Writing Group – Every Tuesday at 6:30 PM.
- Fantasy/Sci-Fi Book Club: Starting in January on the second Wednesday of every month from 7 to 8 PM. (Optional social time starts at 6:30 PM). First book is Opartion Hail Mary on Jan. 14.
- Literary Book Club: Third Wednesday of every month from 7 to 8 PM. (Optional social time starts at 6:30 PM). Upcoming books – Dec. 17: Demon Copperhead; Jan. 21: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine; Feb. 18: All the Colors of the Dark.
- Chess Night: Dec. 18 at 7 PM (arrive early if ordering tea)
- New Year’s Eve Party: Dec. 31, time TBD. Stay tuned for details.
Starting in January, the store will have a meeting room available for the community to book and use for clubs, game nights, business meetings, and more.
Crawford said they are also interested in featuring local authors, and that there is information on the website with guidelines and instructions for applying.
“In some creative industries, an ‘indie darling’ is something small and independent that ends up deeply loved,” Crawford also shared with County 10. “That felt right for this shop. We’re a tiny team building something with real care, and this name reflects what I want the store to become: a place full of heart that the community feels connected to for a long time.”
The store is located at 325 Main Street and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 7 PM. Facebook: indiedarlingbookstore. Instagram: @indiedarlingbookstore.