by Debbie Hall
Photo of Sugar & Shwa Laytart, owners of Avantpop Bookstore, by Mike Rosati Photography
Avantpop Bookstore, an independent bookstore, publisher, and art gallery, was created from the hearts of Sugar and Shwa Laytart and cultivated with the love of the community. Known as the specialty, subversive, subculture, indie bookstore, and publisher, Avantpop Bookstore will leave Commercial Center by the end of the year. Still, events and celebrations will be held at the bookstore through December.
“People, galleries, stores, businesses, the museum, and retail shops have been moving out of Orleans Square [Commercial Center]. With the passing of the owner, we were trying to work with his children, and understandably, they were going through their trauma. They eventually sold it to the county, but the county has not figured out what they would do with the space,” explained Shwa. “We decided that another location would be better suited to us, and we have to relocate, so that is what we've got going on right now.”
Avantpop Bookstore has operated a brick-and-mortar store for two and a half years.
As for opening the bookstore, “When COVID hit, we started selling off some of my book collection, but I was still collecting more books. We created a website to sell them from because we used eBay quite a bit.
“I specialize in fine, rare, oddities, and hard to find. We've been selling books from our website or online for over a decade," said Shwa.
Operating a booth at a Las Vegas Book Festival, a person bought their poetry book, contacted them months later, and told them how they really enjoyed the book.
“He would then tell me that he has a friend who owns the New Orleans Square, and he's looking for a bookstore for this location. I was asked what I thought about a brick-and-mortar. I told them, yes, but it was a difficult venture. I was told the owner planned to make this location the new Arts District. There's free parking, art galleries, and restaurants, and he's working really hard to make this happen.”
The day Sugar and Shwa came to sign the lease, the owner was at a doctor's appointment, and they met with his daughter. After signing the lease, the daughter got a call from her dad, who had just been diagnosed with stomach cancer. Sadly, he would pass away before they moved into their space.
“His dream of creating the new Arts District died with him,” said Shwa.
“But we're excited because we still love books. We still love the community. We've produced over 200 events in the last two and a half years, from book signings to poetry events to reading and music. We've done quite a few things, including independent movies. We've worked with our locals to create an excellent scene here. We want to keep that going.
Events being held at Avantpop Bookstore:
Fri, Dec 13
6-8 p.m.
Avantpop End of Year Potluck
This includes Core Contemporary New Orleans-Style Jazz Funeral & Wake at 7 p.m. and Office of Collecting and Design Closing Night Party 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Sat, Dec 14
7-9 p.m.
STTAR Writers E-Book Anthology Release Party (BMI Community Partner grant-funded project)
Wed, Dec 18
7-9:30 p.m.
Avantpop Cocktails and Silent Auction
Sat, Dec 21
2-5 p.m.
Save Avantpop Benefit Show at Red Dwarf
Avantpop Bookstore
900 Liberace Avenue, D-102
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Avantpopbooks.com@avantpopbooks
A GoFundMe account has been established, and donations can be accepted here.
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