Hi nerds,

Since opening Sunny’s, I've occasionally had people come into the shop solely to comment negatively on our offerings. These aren’t customers looking to browse or buy books. They’re individuals who have no interest in reading, supporting the store, or engaging in good faith.

I’d love to brush these moments off completely, but they can be a little jarring. Sunny’s exists in southern Arizona, where politics are complicated and open carry is common, so we stay aware of our surroundings and these hostile interactions.

Sunny's exists to sell books, build community, and create a welcoming space for people who are often told, explicitly or implicitly, that they don’t belong. I truly believe it’s possible to encounter something that isn’t for you and simply keep it moving. In fact, I do it every single day in this town lol.

Last week, someone yelled at one of our booksellers that he “hates little bookstores like this that sell gay witch stuff.” Not our favorite moment, but also… kind of a perfect summary?

When we shared the incident on social media, a follower messaged us to say that this was actually a pretty great point of differentiation and that they’d happily buy a shirt with that tagline on it. And honestly? They’re right. We do sell queer books! We do sell magical books!

So, out of something upsetting, a silly new sticker was born. Tap in my gay witches!!! Vote on which one you'd move like to see come to life.

Love ya! Onward!

CJ