Booze and… Books?

Blurred Words, a new bookstore with a speakeasy bar, opens up in Fort Collins, offering a tranquil spot to sip and read

Welcome to Blurred Words…an introvert’s dream bar where gently used books are your friends and chatting is optional.

The new business, a bookstore coupled with a speakeasy bar, pays homage to the 1920s era, hurling customers back to a time period marked by prohibition, jazz, and “The Great Gatsby.” Located near the Colorado State University’s campus in Fort Collins, Blurred Words opened its doors to customers in late April. While here, visitors can purchase books at a discounted price and sip on vintage throwback cocktails, many gin-based, including Orange Blossom and Pimm’s Cup. 

“There is a need for more late night places like Blurred Words where somebody could come to a bookstore that is open after hours, where you could get a nice cocktail in a quiet, jazzy lounge, not a screaming sports bar,” Liz Sanders, owner of Blurred Words, said. “There’s definitely a need for those kinds of environments, and I’m very glad to be one providing that.” 

As customers walk in, they’re greeted with shelves of secondhand books from a wide range of genres, including a mix of old and modern classics, collected from library sales and donations. Memorabilia from the 1920s such as archived newspaper articles and a Remington player piano decorate the fluorescently lit space.

The bartender serves customers their drinks in teacups, a sneaky technique speakeasies often used to hide their bootlegged alcohol during the 1920s prohibition in case a police raid occurred. Blurred Words also sells non-alcoholic beverages and snacks such as biscotti and cookies.

At Blurred Words, drinks are served in teacups, a method used during the prohibition era to hide illegal imbibing. Photo by
Shen Wu Tan.

Kelci Lutz, a Brighton, Colorado resident who visited Blurred Words for the first time in June, popped in to search for used books. At first, she didn’t realize she could order alcoholic beverages as well.

“I like to donate used books. I like to buy used books,” Lutz said. “I think the fact that there is a speakeasy is just a little bonus. I mean, I can sit around and read books all day long, but add a little alcohol or some coffee, I can do this all day long.”

Another first-time customer, Fort Collins resident Cora Contreras, ventured in around 8 p.m. She wanted to visit a bookstore; however, many of them were already closed. But then she noticed that Blurred Words was still open.

“I think it’s really cool,” Contreras said. “I don’t know of many other speakeasies in Fort Collins, except for the Social. That’s really well known, so it’s barely a speakeasy. And I think we could use some more used bookstores around so I think that’s really neat…. I’ve never seen a combo speakeasy and bookstore before.”

Although Liz mostly remained loyal to the 1920s-era theme, she did deviate from it and indulged herself slightly.

In the back room near the bar’s counter stands a wooden door carved with lion emblems.

What’s behind these doors?

You guessed it: Narnia — or a room that honors the fantasy world birthed from the imagination of British author C.S. Lewis. The door mimics the wardrobe that serves as the entrance to Narnia. Inside the room lies a long table situated in front of a wall adorned with images of vegetation and eroded, ancient stone structures. To the right, a map of Narnia hangs on the wall. To the left sits an old-timey desk with a small metal lion statue perched on top.

Blurred Words has a speakeasy bar toward the back end of the business. Photo by Shen Wu Tan.

The room is suited to host small gatherings of people, part of Liz’s efforts to utilize her business as a way to build community.

Now that the business is open and operating, Liz has hosted a number of events including board game nights and book club talks. The business could possibly host other events such as writing group meetups, live music, and paint and sip evenings in the future.

On the bookstore side of the business, Liz would like to start carrying more published works about Colorado and written by local authors at some point.

“…She started with the idea of ‘I want to open up a bookstore, and I want to add a speakeasy to that because why not?’” Matt Sanders, Liz’s husband, said. “People love reading and cocktails, so [it’s] a good combination. And I couldn’t fault her for that… My wife had a great vision, and I was just glad that I could help her make it come to life.”

“I’ve probably not seen her more excited about doing something than trying to get this business up and running and going,” he added. “This store is kind of her baby.”

Owning a bookstore has been a lifelong desire for Liz, a lover of words who’s surrounded herself with literature over the years working in libraries and bookstores.

“Sometimes, it doesn’t feel real,” Liz said. “It’s like, ‘This is mine?’ Huh. I really can sit here and read my book while I wait for people to come buy stuff, which is the dream by the way.”

The next step for Liz is to ramp up marketing for the new business whether that’s putting out a sidewalk sign or handing out bookmarks to attract more foot traffic and a steadier flow of customers.

Blurred Words is located at 1205 W. Elizabeth St., Unit I in Fort Collins.