Angie Grau opens up book shop in NOTO

Alumna’s business brings education, fun to NOTO

Angie Grau, a Washby Alyssa Storm After she got pregnant with her first child, photo by Alyssa Storm burn University alumna, Charlotte, she knew she (right) has continued to be just wanted a job that would Book lovers of all as successful and hardworking as she was in help her spend as much time with her family as ages might enjoy a stroll through Paper June, her collegiate career. possible. located at 907 N.

Grau was a double After spending a year Kansas Ave., but major throughout college, majoring in mass media at Civic Plus in Manhattan, where she worked as this bookstore is geared toward younger children. and business with an em- a campaign coordinator phasis in marketing. She and a marketing commugraduated in December nications specialist, Grau of 2009, but she decided realized she didn’t enjoy that she wasn’t done the commute. She got learning yet. a job at Advisors Excel,

“I've always been where she worked for somebody who likes to six years in the Creative stay busy and likes to be Department as one of the overly involved,” said account managers. Grau. She went on to get While working at her MBA from Washburn Advisors Excel, Grau and in 2012. Grau met her a coworker, Sara Bathusband while she was in man, would always talk the graduate program. about how cool it would After receiving her un- be to have a children’s dergraduate degree, Grau bookstore because at the was looking for a job at time they both had kids an advertising company, around the same age. Jones Huyett Partners, “For years I would talk JHP, where she got hired to her saying ‘wouldn't as an administrative it be cool, wouldn't it assistant. She worked be cool.’ And she would her way up to a media just ask me like, ‘why photo by Alyssa Storm coordinator and fulfilled don't you just do it,’” said Alumna Angie (Marquart) Grau, 2009, stands at her dream of working at Grau. As time passed, she the register of her bookstore, which is called Paper an advertising agency. thought to herself “why June, which opened for business in June of 2019.

GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO!GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! GO!GO! GO! GO! couldn’t I?” While she was on maternity leave with her last of three kids, she knew she wanted to focus on one thing and accomplish it; and that was Paper June. “I was so incredibly proud of her for taking the big jump to become a small business owner,”

said Batman. “It is also incredibly unique in that you can also take classes or use the art studio in the store. Her passion to provide easy introductions to art and writing to children is something our community has been in great need of.”

Grau purchased the training books from PAW and Associates, a training company for indie bookstore owners, and started reading. She got ideas from Pinterest and reached out to people and other book stores on Instagram.

Batman, who is a graphic designer, helped Grau come up with the graphic for Paper June.

Paper June got its name and graphic in memory of Grau’s mother as well as incorporating her mother-in-law. Grau’s mother was a very influential part of her life and bookstore. Grau said that she fell in love with reading because her mother would always read to her as a kid. Her parents were both literacy teachers, so it was only fitting that she opened a bookstore. Grau got the name for the store from her mom’s name, Deborah June. The hummingbird on the logo is for her mother, they were her favorite animal, as well as them being enjoyed by her mother-in-law.

Paper June started off as a pop-up shop to make sure that it was a viable business opportunity. They were in a children’s boutique to start off. This is when she realized that there was a market for her store. Paper June opened the storefront in June of 2019 in the NOTO district. The store has all things for kids from books to art activities. The book selection ranges from babies to ages 12-14.

“ I want parents to know that this is a place just for kids. The content that they have is going to be something that they can feel safe about letting their kids see,” said Grau.

The store also has wooden toys and a small selection of creative kits. “Our tagline is Paper June, a book and creativity shop. Our mission is to nurture and encourage creativity through reading, writing, art and play,” said Grau.

Paper June offers a variety of classes for kids ages preschool through elementary.

Grau’s advice is don’t say no to an opportunity and don’t worry if your dreams change as you do.

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