Trident Booksellers and Café at 940 Pearl Street is such a popular hangout for so wide a swath of Boulder that it feels like it's always been here. And it has been here a good while, the bookstore having been founded by James Gimian and Hudson Shotwell in June 1980, adjacent to a yarn and fabric shop. Books have been on offer here since the beginning, but it was a surprise to find out that Gimian and Shotwell, two members of a Buddhist circle, offered locals what turned out to be Colorado's first espresso bar in 1981, when they moved the café into space vacated by that fabric shop.
Today, baristas like cheery, quick-witted Anita serve all kinds of coffee drinks, teas, Italian sodas, and seasonal items like hot chocolate and lemonade, along with tasty croissants and cheese Danii (that's the plural of Danish)...
And through the wide portal that connects the espresso bar and seating area with the bookstore, you'll find a collection of classic vinyl albums to go with new and used books, notebooks and cards.
These days the Trident is a bustling place, so busy that unless you arrive early or late in the daily schedule (it's open 7 AM to 9 PM every day) it may be hard to find a table. It was only recently that it dawned on this writer that there are at least two good reasons for this, and that both are connected to the Covid-19 pandemic...
The first motivation for increased customer visits happened all around us; it was the trend toward working at home that began when many offices were shuttered. That led to more people seeking the community (or alternatively, the quiet space) they lacked at home by taking their laptops to coffee shops. The second thing was something that originated with Peter, the Trident's General Manager, and it may have been even more essential to success. He suggested the idea of the Trident becoming an employee-owned business, with the option of any employee with a year of Trident experience having the option of buying a share. About 6 months after the pandemic's first impact on Boulder, 8 Trident employees bought a third of the business. It is now 100% employee-owned, and having voting power as well as a share of the profits provides employees with a sense of involvement as well as an incentive to do their best.
Among the physical changes Trident's managers made to weather the Covid-19 pandemic was to move the rear (south) fence to expand the outdoor garden seating area, and when weather demands, to hang a plastic curtain under the edge of the roof over the sheltered outdoor space. Along with the provision of a heating unit, this allowed the roofed area to be employed as conditioned space when needed.
It also provides an expanded space for poetry readings, musical performances, and book signings. In January of this year, it was warm enough out here to host a talk by a favorite essayist and novelist, Rachel Kushner...
And over the years, the Trident's garden space has also provided a venue for man's best friends to get the attention they deserve. One of these was Watson, the world's best dog, who visited the Trident in just about every one of the 66 seasons I spent with him. That's another reason I still like to spend time in the Trident's garden.
Photo Credits:
All photos are by the author.
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