KYN: Foxes and Fireflies Bookstore Opens its Doors

DULUTH, Minn.– For the first time in nearly two decades, a bookstore has finally made its way into Superior.

“Everyone is so excited. They walk in, and they’re ‘Oh! Thank you for doing this, thank you! We’re so glad to have a bookstore in Superior! And most of them say, ‘Wow this is a great space. It’s so cozy!'” said Maria Lockwood, owner of Foxes and Fireflies.

The cozy space is no other than Foxes and Fireflies nestled into the Superior Business Center right off of Tower Avenue.

The bookstore had its grand opening back in October of this year.

“That first weekend was amazing. We have never replicated it since. It was just people here, constantly. Both days it was full, the minute we opened the door to when we closed,” said Lockwood.

For owner Maria Lockwood, achieving this dream was something she never saw coming.

“It was a dream I didn’t know I had. I wanted a bookstore in Superior. I didn’t expect I would be the one bringing the bookstore to superior. But now that I have it here, I’m just so happy,” said Lockwood.

Getting the bookstore up and running, was quite literally the luck of the draw.

The Superior Business Center was looking for new applicants.

“I filled out the application to see what the process was all about. And I put down, what I always dreamed Superior needed, which was a bookstore. I had no plan, I had nothing. I just said, I think superior needs a bookstore and this would be great,” said Lockwood.

And eventually, the bookstore was born.

The Superior Business Center caters to young businesses just starting out.

For now, things for Foxes and Fireflies are just coasting along.

“Another really, ‘Aha moment’ for me is when I see folks sitting down to play a game of chess, or a game of checkers. Because this is more than a store, this is a community space. We want people to come in. We want people to sit down with a book and a cup of coffee and read for an hour,” said Lockwood.

The store has a wide variety of book genres to choose from, but they also include a bit of local flair as well.

“I try to get things in every genre that folks would like. But one of the big things that I focus on is local authors. This giant local author shelf. And I want every local author to be represented there. I want you to see your neighbor, your best friend right there on those shelves,” said Lockwood.

And if you have books, you’ve already read laying around, they’re looking for donations for books in well-loved condition.

And as for the name Foxes and Fireflies, that has a story of its own!

“I chose the name Foxes and Fireflies because I wanted something that reflected our home, where we live. And up here in the north you see foxes all over the place. Especially I know Billings Park has foxes everywhere. But they’re so cute, and they’re so curious, and intelligent, and just like a reader. And then fireflies, to me, seeing a firefly on a summer day you’re looking out and suddenly there’s a spark of light. It’s just pure joy. Like for me, sitting down and reading a book,” explained Lockwood.

Right now, Foxes and Fireflies is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 3 to 7 PM

And Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM.

The bookstore also hosts a weekly silent book club that meets every Tuesday from 5:30 to 7 PM.