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March 4, 2026

Can Tattered Cover's Ex-CEO Find Bookstore Redemption? Plus, Denver Pride Is on the Move

City Cast Denver

Can Tattered Cover's Ex-CEO Find Bookstore Redemption? Plus, Denver Pride Is on the Move

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Kwame Spearman wants you to buy books from him again. The 2023 mayoral hopeful and former CEO of The Tattered Cover opened Denver Book Society last month and he’s hoping for a redemption arc. But  social media chatter shows some Denverites feeling skeptical of his second try at book selling, accusing him of being a catalyst for Tattered’s failure at retaining local ownership and calling into question comments he made about ICE and immigration during his run for mayor. Can Spearman and co-owner Rich Garvin create the “third space” they hope to bring with this new venture? Host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love are joined by green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval to discuss the future of the new indie bookstore, plus dig into the news that Denver Pride is shrinking down to a single day celebration and will move from Civic Center Park to 16th Street. 

Bree mentioned Spearman’s comments on immigration, as reported by 9News and Denverite’s conversation with Kim Salvaggio, CEO of The Center. Olivia read from Instagram posts from both Denver Book Society and Denver Book Swap Society.


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