Two years of selling used books from folding shelves at local markets are about to pay off for Kris Luecker, who will open The Paper Cat Bookshop in November.

Located at 2040 W. Orange Grove Road, The Paper Cat Bookshop is a longtime dream of Luecker, who is stepping away from her job in the publishing industry after more than 25 years.

Luecker said she’s looking forward to using her industry knowledge to help local readers find stories that stay with them long after the last page, whether that be a bestseller or a book from a first-time author.

Her love of books started long before her career did.

“I was a crazy avid reader since I was a little kid. (Reading) was my favorite thing ... and it has stayed my favorite thing,” Luecker told Tucson Spotlight. “I was an English major, then I worked in publishing. I’ve just been reading nonstop for my entire life.”

Luecker fell in love with Tucson and its scenery after the COVID-19 pandemic and decided to make a life here after needing a change.

“I’m one of those people who have always had the dream in the back of her head, (of) I’m going to open a bookstore someday,” Luecker said. “I’ve had a really good career, but I thought it’d be more fun to be on the other side of book selling. Instead of acquiring and publishing, let’s actually put the books in people’s hands and be our own boss.”

Her plans come as independent bookstores open at a rapid pace this year, despite the popular belief that chains such as Barnes & Noble dominate the market.

In fact, American Booksellers Association membership grew by more than 500 in 2026, to a total of 3,417 members representing 3,783 locations across the country, according to the Associated Press. This year’s membership numbers are triple what they were a decade ago and the highest number of new stores since the late 1990s.

Luecker’s own ambitions for a bookshop started with a foldable, portable shelf and a thoughtfully curated selection of used books. She’s attended several markets in Tucson over the past two years, finding a large and welcoming bookish community.

The response at those markets gave her the confidence to think bigger.

“This is actually working, and I think I can do this. The people who come to the booth and find out and talk to me and learn about (Paper Cat Bookshop), they’re usually pretty excited,” Luecker said. “I get positive feedback on what I’m carrying. People have been really supportive and come back to the booth over and over again, it’s been really great.”

While Luecker tabled around town at various events, she was always on the lookout for the perfect spot for her shop, even if it meant trial and error.

“I started looking years ago at different spots, during the two years I was doing the pop-ups,” Luecker said. “Some of the spots I was looking at were gone by the time I was ready to go. I came down here, and everything just came together quickly and reasonably. I’m going to just call this meant to be and go with it.”

Even before the shop has opened for business, Luecker continues to receive positive feedback from the community.

“I’ve gotten emails from people who’ve walked by the sign saying, ‘We saw your sign. We’re so excited,’ which is really sweet and very reassuring on the days where I’m like, ‘What am I doing?’” Luecker said.

The bookshop will carry a variety of new and used books and bookish merchandise while also providing a quiet space for reading and recharging.

Luecker took to Instagram to announce the shop’s opening, thanking the community for its support, “past, present, and future.”

“Whether you bought a book, donated funds, moved furniture, or wrestled a wind-blown tent with me, every single thing has helped me get this far, and I’m excited to open actual, real-life doors to you all,” Luecker wrote in the post.

Topacio “Topaz” Servellon is a reporter with Tucson Spotlight. Contact them at topacioserve@gmail.com.

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