Red Ferns Booksellers Remains a Cornerstone of the Local Literary Scene

Red Fern Booksellers

Red Fern Booksellers is an independent bookstore located in downtown Salina, Kansas, dedicated to fostering a love of reading and community connection. Housed in the historic Teague Nelson Building, the shop offers a thoughtfully curated selection of new books across all genres; fiction, nonfiction, children’s titles, cookbooks, and more, alongside unique gift items such as stationery, puzzles, and locally made goods. More than just a retail space, Red Ferns Booksellers serves as a cultural hub, hosting book clubs, author readings, and other events that bring people together through stories and ideas. Founded by Harley Hamilton, the bookstore’s name symbolizes renewal and interconnectedness, values that reflect its mission to create an inclusive, welcoming space where readers of all backgrounds can gather, explore, and grow.

About Red Fern Booksellers

On their website Red Fern Booksellers says this: “Welcome to Red Fern Booksellers!  Our mission is to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all members of our community in which to nurture a love of reading, engage in thoughtful conversations, and foster empathy.” Downtown Salina is the cultural hub of our city offering art, theater, and live music. Red Fern is excited to be part of the local fabric that brings a community together, offering a place to discover your new favorite book or browse the latest bestsellers, travel books, cookbooks, and all the things we need to help us dream and create. 

The bookstore is located in the Teague Nelson Building (listed on the Kansas Register of Historic Places) in the heart of Downtown Salina at 106 South Santa Fe Ave.  In addition to a thoughtfully curated selection of thousands of titles, we offer a variety of responsibly sourced artisanal goods including gift wrap, stationery, greeting cards, candles, puzzles, games, and art. Come in and browse for your next favorite book.  Hopefully, you’ll remember why you loved reading as a child and pass that love of reading on to the children in your life. We want to be the first place you think of when you want a book! “

How Red Fern Booksellers Contributes to the Community

There are many ways that Red Fern Booksellers contribute to the Salina community besides just selling books. They make real contributions to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the community. Here are some of the ways they do so:

• Supporting downtown revitalization & historic building use: The bookstore is located at 106 S Santa Fe Ave in the heart of downtown Salina, in the historic Teague Nelson Building listed on the Kansas Register of Historic Places. The owner explicitly noted that the decision to open the bookstore was influenced by the recent revitalization of downtown Salina. 

• Supporting local creators, artisans and diversity: In addition to books, they sell a range of artisanal goods (gift wrap, stationery, greeting cards, candles, games, art) with many items from women- and minority-owned small businesses. Through their Local Authors’ Fair they promote regional authors across genres (mystery, romance, poetry, science fiction) giving them a platform.

• Promoting literacy, reading culture & safe space: Their described atmosphere is warm, inclusive, filled with thoughtful dialogue and social interaction, not just retail. They explicitly emphasize that the bookstore is “part of the local fabric that brings a community together.”

• Hosting community-oriented events & engaging spaces: They celebrate national events like Independent Bookstore Day with special events: e.g., bookstore day with children’s readings, music, giveaways. They also host the annual Local Authors’ Fair (open to local/region authors) where community members meet authors, buy books, mingle. The store serves as a venue for poetry readings (e.g., as part of the Salina Spring Poetry Series) with national and regional poets.

• Providing inclusive, welcoming community space: Their described atmosphere is warm, inclusive, filled with thoughtful dialogue and social interaction, not just retail. They explicitly emphasize that the bookstore is “part of the local fabric that brings a community together.

Events Red Fern Booksellers Hosts

Red Fern Booksellers is a vibrant community hub in Salina, Kansas, known for a wide array of engaging events designed for diverse interests. These include various book clubs, such as an ongoing Contemporary Issues Book Club, a “Classics with Jerzee” series, and “Margy’s Spicy Reads”—along with popular author visits, readings, discussions, and book signings. The store also hosts family-friendly activities like children’s story times and participates in city-wide events such as the “Sip & Stroll Salina” and downtown Trick-or-Treating. Other unique gatherings have included an annual Local Authors’ Fair, “Death Storytelling Hour,” Star Wars trivia nights, a “Boozy Bookfair” at a local brewery, a First Friday live music and artist series, and even private events like weddings or senior pictures. 

To see more events that Red Fern Booksellers hosts, be sure to check out their calendar schedule at https://redfernbooksellers.com/events. 

Reviews

• “I really enjoy going to Red Ferns Booksellers because of the friendly environment. The store has so many genres of books, and there is always something new that catches my eye.”
• “One of my favorite things about the bookstore is when the owner brings in his dog Ollie. The owner  himself is very nice, friendly, and approachable. The whole atmosphere itself is just very friendly and fun.”
• “Red Fern Booksellers is a great addition to downtown Salina. It’s unique that Salina has a locally owned bookstore.”