Neighbors of The Nave: Welcome to Betti’s
After The Writer’s Block closed its doors permanently in 2025, many of us wondered what would come next. For the building’s new owner Emily Klopfer, opening a bookstore in Spenard is a dream come true and an opportunity to give back to the community that shaped her. Welcome to Betti’s!
Above: Owner Emily Klopfer smiles with the bookstore’s namesake, Betti the Alaskan Klee Kai.
A 3rd-generation Alaskan and lifelong Anchorage resident, Emily previously worked in publishing in New York, including children’s and YA editorial work at Bloomsbury and Books of Wonder. After learning that the Writer’s Block was closing, she saw a rare opportunity to make her Anchorage bookstore dream a reality.
Once keys were in hand, Emily and her family began transforming the bookstore from the ground up. Emily’s mother decorated the space with quilts she had originally made for the Snow Goose Restaurant before it closed (the quilts are worth a peek for nostalgia alone!). Emily’s aunt created beautiful stained-glass art for the store. The dining side of the establishment was scaled back to make more room for books and events.
Betti’s is intentionally “more book, less cafe,” with a strong emphasis on literature, family-friendly events, and nurturing community at all ages. The space even includes a reservable book club and meeting room, play and reading areas for children, rotating artwork, and space for intimate performances, open mics, and readings.
Emily hopes that Betti’s can become a gathering place for emerging artists and authors, but her vision extends beyond one bookstore. “Let’s all support each other,” she says, envisioning future bookstore crawls on Spenard 2nd Saturdays, collaborations with fellow Anchorage booksellers and local authors, and Scholastic Book Fair-style opportunities that serve youth who aren’t enrolled with ASD. Emily is brimming with excitement and ideas – the next steps, she says, are hiring staff and fully opening the store. Their grand opening is scheduled for October 23, 2026.
With its focus on family-friendly programming, local artists, authors, and community events, Betti’s is opening a new chapter for Spenard. You can learn more at their website, https://www.bettisalaska.com/.
Special thanks to Emily Klopfer and her “Pawfice Manager” Betti the dog for taking the time to share with us for Neighbors of The Nave. We can’t wait to visit again soon!
Neighbors of The Nave is a series of interviews, profiles, and updates related to our neighboring businesses and organizations located in the Spenard neighborhood of Anchorage, Alaska. The goal of this series is to amplify the positive efforts of local small business owners, artists, and community organizers to support and empower their neighbors. If you or someone you know would like to be featured, please contact us at info@thenavespenard.com.