Black quickly worked up a plan to open a bookstore of her own in the city. She intended to take a year or two to get ready before moving on the plan, but four days into 2021, she lost her job as a data analyst in a round of COVID-19-related layoffs.
Taking it as a sign, Black set to work immediately, and The Book Burrow was born.
“The thing that I kept on thinking about was the closest [independent] bookstore to us was Lark & Owl or BookPeople, which is 35 minutes north or 35 minutes south,” Black said. “I’m not about to drive that [far] every time I want a book, so I thought it would be easier to start my own bookstore.”
The store was initially based out of Black’s garage, and she set up pop-up booths at various events and venues around the city.
In those early days, Black said the store survived on a huge number of book donations from the community.
“I posted on Facebook, ‘Hey, I just lost my job, and I guess I’m going to start a bookstore,’ and just a flood of donations came in,” Black said. “I still have books in my garage.”
With time, The Book Burrow moved to a small space in the Pflugerville Pflea Market. Black said the store quickly outgrew that space, and in March it moved to a space in Three Legged Goat, a wine bar in downtown Pflugerville.
The shop carries books in all genres and for all age groups as well as new and “preloved” books.
However, Black said she wants The Book Burrow to be more than just a place to buy books.
To that end, The Book Burrow holds community events that include game nights, author signings and most recently a miniature renaissance fair on May 12.
Black said Three Legged Goat is where The Book Burrow will remain for the foreseeable future, but one day she wants a space of her own.
“This is just the beginning,” Black said. “We’re just renting and waiting for that perfect space in Pflugerville.”
The Book Burrow
200 E. Pecan St., Ste. 5, Pflugerville
512-670-8441
www.thebookburrowbookstore.com
Hours: Tue.-Thu. 2-10 p.m., Fri. 2 p.m.-midnight, Sat. noon-midnight, Sun. noon-6 p.m., Mon. closed
