Almost a year after buying the building, Emily Klopfer celebrated the official opening of Betti's, one of Anchorage's newest independent bookstores, on October 23, 2026. The shop takes over the Spenard Road space once known as The Writer's Block Bookstore and Café, and it is reorganized around children's literature and community events.
A Neighborhood Gathering Place Gets a New Purpose
The Writer's Block closed in 2025 after owner Vered Mares departed, leaving the neighborhood without a familiar meeting spot. Klopfer, who had long wanted to run a bookstore, has positioned Betti's as a way to restore that sense of community, with an emphasis on supporting local artists. She is active in Anchorage's theater scene herself, having performed with Cyrano's Theatre Company and Anchorage Community Theater, where she also serves on the board.
Rearranging the Space Around Books and Events
The layout has changed significantly. The performance area has moved to a corner near the picture book section, and the stage that once anchored the café has been replaced with shelving for young adult titles, Alaskan authors, and genres such as horror, mystery, and fantasy. Movable bookshelves on casters let the small staff reconfigure the floor for larger gatherings. Klopfer said she wanted shoppers to browse freely without feeling pressured by an event happening around them.
Food service is on hold. The removal of the long counter opened up floor space, and a planned pass-through window will eventually serve coffee and café items, but the kitchen needs new equipment first. The bookstore has an approved food permit and is pursuing an alcohol license for beer and wine, though the menu is not expected to match the scope of the former café.
Children's Books and Programming at the Core
Klopfer's background shapes the store's focus. She worked in the children's department of Bloomsbury Publishing and later at a New York children's bookstore. Betti's stocks an extensive picture book section along with middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction. Daytime hours will host kid-friendly programming such as story hours and puppet shows, while evenings are planned for adult events including open mic readings, music, performances, and workshops. A reservable room is available for book clubs and other community groups.
The store is also named for Klopfer's grandmother and the family dog, and it displays quilted art by her mother and stained glass by her aunt. Its community programming, including yoga classes, radio plays, and readings, began before the official opening.