Salt Lake City is thriving when it comes to both local businesses and communities. Nestled in Liberty Wells is one of these local highlights, a place where community and business meld together in equal measure to create a truly unique experience for those wanting to go inside of it. This place is called The Legendarium, and it is a bookstore like no other.
The first thing that gives The Legendarium a unique feeling compared to its contemporaries is the actual building itself. The Legendarium is a remodeled home, which already lends itself to a pleasing atmosphere. Adding to this is the rich smell of coffee coming from the store’s very own cafe. Every aspect of The Legendarium is geared towards having the most welcoming and relaxing experience you could have at a bookstore.
Now, it goes without saying that the main attraction of The Legendarium is its books. This location in particular focuses on science fiction and fantasy stories. Adding to this is the interior decoration of the store. With banners, posters and even a pair of swords hanging on the wall, it sets a clear tone of exactly what kinds of books will be found within its walls. Of course, there are other subjects, such as horror, but for the most part, The Legendarium is for the nerds of the world.
Diversity is also a large theme in the collection of The Legendarium, with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ stories, which range from the magical romance “The Entanglement of Rival Wizards” by Sara Raasch to the dark and harrowing “Black Flame” by Gretchen Felker-Martin. If you’re ever overwhelmed by the large selection, there is a wall dedicated to employee-recommended novels, each with a handwritten description.
Gathering Your Party
Turning away from the book for a moment, The Legendarium also prides itself on being a local spot for fans of literature and nerds looking to get a group together for a night filled with board games and role play. For those more interested in books, they have five different book clubs, each focusing on different kinds of genres.
On the other side of things, it seems that nerd activities are a mainstay with The Legendarium. With Dungeons and Dragons night, board game nights and even some LGBTQ+ based gaming events, it’s clear that they want to foster and grow the community that they have created here. For those wanting to attend one of these events or join a book club, be sure to check the calendar on their website.
If you need a quiet place to hang out or even study, The Legendarium is great for that as well as is the case with Jess and Kylie, two University of Utah students quizzing each other in the main room of the store. Though Jess does not come to The Legendarium very often, she says that it “feels very homey” and likes the wide variety of books.
Kylie, on the other hand, has rarely been in the store. Despite that, she said that it’s like “someone’s proud library”, in the sense that it’s like being welcomed into a place of passion and openness. And if that’s not the perfect way to describe this local gem, then perhaps there is no right way.
