Minnesota
Minneapolis bookstore devastated by water main break
A beloved local bookstore, the Paperback Exchange, is facing an unimaginable loss after a water main break flooded their South Minneapolis store early last Thursday morning.
The store, which was preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary this spring, now finds itself in the midst of a crisis.
“It was so colorful and bright and just a warm place to be, and now, it’s just empty, you know,” said Rachel Pedersen, Manager of the bookstore.
Pedersen said they rushed to salvage as many books as they could, saving a majority of the ones upstairs. But downstairs, the situation was much worse.
“The back wall is where the water main burst. There was about a four-by-five-foot hole in the wall where the main burst and just completely flooded,” Pedersen said.
Thankfully, no one was working in the basement at the time. The water submerged the entire basement from floor to ceiling, leaving books in piles of mud and debris.
“Unfortunately, the basement is where we put rare, valuable stuff that was hard to sell upstairs — overstock. One-in-a-million type of stuff, stuff you’ll never see again… 50 years worth of collecting stuff, you know, and stuff that’s irreplaceable, really,” Pedersen said.
In total, Pedersen estimates that over 100,000 books were lost in the basement alone. She said the owners, who have managed the bookstore for 30 years, are now dealing with the loss of their business, as well as personal losses. The same water main break that devastated the store also affected their home.
“They lost their car, their whole basement, and they’re struggling with insurance too,” Pedersen said.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, the community has rallied together in support. Local schools have shown their compassion by leaving Valentine’s cards on the doors of businesses impacted by the flood.
“It was one bright spot, you know, in a really hard time for us, and we’re so happy to see that,” Pedersen said.
Though the future remains uncertain, Pedersen stays hopeful.
“It’s been hard, but, you know, just gotta keep going forward, and we’re so thankful to everyone who’s been helping us,” Pedersen said.
Paperback Exchange will be hosting a book fair at Fat Pants Brewing Company in Eden Prairie on March 2nd, from 12 PM to 5 PM. This event will serve as a way for the community to support the store during this challenging time.
The mother of 10-year-old Harper Moyski, who was killed during the mass shooting late last month at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, remembered her on Sunday as a fierce, curious and funny child who “didn’t water herself down.”
Hundreds gathered at the Lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis to celebrate Moyski’s life. Speakers also called for people to dedicate themselves to building a less violent American society.
Moyski and another student at Annunciation Catholic School, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, were killed and 21 others were injured in the Aug. 27 shooting.
Moyski’s mother, Jackie Flavin, told the mourners that their support had lifted the family when it felt as if it had been dropped at the bottom of an ocean “where it’s pitch black and the pressure is crushing.”
She said Moyski, who loved dogs and hoped to be a veterinarian, taught them “how to be a light in the dark.”
“She had her own point of view, her own sense of style, her own way of being. She didn’t wait for permission. She didn’t water herself down,” Flavin said. “And she really taught us to show up exactly as you are.”
Flavin also called Moyski “extra in the very best way.”
“Harper didn’t do anything halfway,” she said. “Always choosing the premium versions, always going for the extra scoop.”
The memorial came only four days after the fatal shooting of conservative activist and leader Charlie Kirk as he spoke at Utah Valley University.
During the celebration of Moyski’s life, speakers expressed frustration and anger that gun violence — particularly shootings that kill schoolchildren — hasn’t stopped.
Another extended family member, Rabbi Jason Rodich, urged people to avoid the acrimony of social media and “the scorched earth of these times.”
“Turn just a little to the warm soul beside you,” he said. “Do it for Harper. Do it for you.”
This story will be updated.
NOTE: The original airdate of the video attached to this article is Sept. 12, 2025.
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