1700 Humboldt Street

Denver Book Society to Open in Former Humboldt Kitchen Space.

Kwame Spearman is making a return to the Denver book scene, this time with his own vision and his own real estate.

The former Tattered Cover CEO is launching Denver Book Society inside the old Humboldt Kitchen + Bar space at 1700 Humboldt Street, a 9,000-square-foot building in City Park West that he and philanthropist Rich Garvin purchased for $2.9 million earlier this year. About 3,500 square feet of the former restaurant will be converted into a bookstore, with plans to also turn the old kitchen into a 2,000-square-foot eatery.

The property is also home to White Pie and Dos Santos, both of which will remain in place under existing leases.

Spearman, a Denver native, co-led the 2020 investor group that acquired Tattered Cover before stepping down as CEO in 2023.

During his tenure, the historic chain expanded into new markets but ultimately filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023 and sold to Barnes & Noble last summer. Reflecting on that experience, Spearman says he’s learned valuable lessons about what it takes to run an independent bookstore.

Denver Book Society, he says, will focus on curation and community, “Books that you can easily find on Amazon, you can find on Amazon. You come into our store and have a best-in-class staff recommend a book you wouldn’t have found otherwise.”

The location carries a layer of nostalgia, too. The building was once home to Strings, a beloved Denver restaurant that ran for nearly three decades. Spearman remembers dining there as a kid whenever he could talk someone into picking up the tab.

The vision for Denver Book Society goes beyond retail. Spearman and Garvin want the store to serve as a cultural hub, offering programming, author events, and gathering space for the neighborhood.

With plans to open by spring 2026, the bookstore is poised to bring new life to a corner already steeped in local history.

First reported by @business.den