Community Spirit Saves Auckland's Beloved Secondhand Bookshop from Extinction
In an era where independent bookshops face mounting pressures from digital disruption and soaring rents, Auckland's Hard to Find Books has emerged as a beacon of resilience, successfully relocating after months of uncertainty threatened its 43-year legacy.
The beloved secondhand bookshop, which houses hundreds of thousands of titles, faced closure when its landlord, the Catholic Church, decided to sell the historic former convent that had been the shop's home for eight years in Eden Terrace.
Owner Warwick Jordan's determination to preserve this cultural institution reflects broader questions about community spaces and sustainable business models in Aotearoa's evolving retail landscape.
A New Chapter in Familiar Territory
After five months of intensive searching and physical labour, Jordan has secured a basement space beneath Southbound Records, conveniently located just across the road from the original site. The new 250,000-book capacity venue represents both opportunity and compromise.
"If we don't buy them, who will? There are fewer and fewer secondhand bookshops out there," Jordan explains, acknowledging the economic challenges while demonstrating the passion that drives many small business owners in New Zealand's creative sectors.
The move allows Jordan to finally display books that have been stored in shipping containers, creating a more comprehensive browsing experience for Auckland's literary community.
Preserving Cultural Heritage in Modern Times
While the new space lacks the architectural charm of the 120-year-old convent, with its confessional turned children's room and historical religious fixtures, Jordan recognizes the importance of adapting while maintaining the shop's essential character.
"I did debate whether to take this as a hint to shut up and go away, but there were so many people who didn't want us to close down," he reflects, highlighting the vital role community support plays in sustaining independent businesses.
Industry Challenges and Community Solutions
Hard to Find Books' survival story comes against a backdrop of concerning closures across Auckland's secondhand book scene. Dominion Books in Herne Bay shuttered after 37 years in 2023, while the city centre's Jason Books closed after 55 years in late 2024, both victims of rising commercial rents.
Rachel Lynch from Ponsonby's Open Book acknowledges the sector's difficulties: "Money is difficult. We try to pay our staff fairly, and foot traffic, especially in poor weather, means the money just isn't there at all."
These challenges reflect broader issues facing small retailers nationwide, particularly those offering cultural and educational services that may not generate high profit margins but provide significant community value.
Grassroots Support and Social Innovation
The successful relocation demonstrates the power of community-driven solutions. A Givealittle crowdfunding campaign helped cover essential costs like floor painting and shelving, while volunteers contributed countless hours to the massive moving operation.
This collaborative approach exemplifies New Zealand's tradition of community resilience and mutual support, particularly for enterprises that enhance local culture and accessibility to literature.
Jordan hopes the new location, expected to open mid-March, will continue serving Auckland's diverse reading community while adapting to contemporary retail realities.
"Can I do iconic again? That's kind of a big ask," he admits, "but I would hope to create something that people like, want to come back to, and get a buzz out of."