About The All Good Bookshop
2019: The co-op is formed
When a popular local bookshop (The Big Green Bookshop) moved away from the area at the end of 2018, it left Wood Green and Turnpike Lane without a bookshop. Some of the regulars knew what an important space it had been, both as a bookshop and a local arts hub, and so looked to start a replacement. That's when we started exploring how to form a co-operative.
2019: The Blue House Yard era
One of the co-founders of the Big Green Bookshop was Tim West, a veteran bookseller of... let's just say many years.
Excitingly, Tim agreed to be part of the co-operative and to manage the new shop if we were able to start up. He also suggested the name (as in 'available from all good bookshops').
Following some crowd-funding and personal loans, we were able to start selling books again in local start-up space, the Blue House Yard. The 'All Good Bookshed' continued in operation for a couple of years, even once we'd opened in Turnpike Lane!
2020: Turnpike Lane (and lockdown...)
In March 2020, with the help of guarantors, the co-op was able to take on a lease at 35 Turnpike Lane. We did a soft-launch open and then... immediately closed for most of the next 12 months due to Covid.
During this time, we took orders online and Tim delivered books locally by bike (gaining a Haringey Hero award for doing so).
Throughout that year and the following, Tim and Carmel Shortall went over and above to keep the shop open during a difficult time. Without their work, we can honestly say the shop wouldn't have survived.
2023: Tim leaves, Volunteers join
Sadly, in 2023, Tim West left us (he didn't die or anything - he just moved to Leamington Spa). We had a gala night for his retirement as part of the Haringey Arts Festival.
At this time, we also moved more towards a volunteer-based system, in order to help keep the shop open. And we welcomed Stephen FitzSimons as the new manager.
Since then, we've launched new groups and events, and the shop has continued to thrive - thanks to the hard work by volunteers and staff, both present and past.