by Steve Heller, author of Return of the Ghost Killer
Most of the articles one reads about small independent bookstores in the USA focus on the Northeast or, more rarely, the West Coast. But book lovers are found everywhere. Few literary institutions demonstrate this phenomenon better than Watermark Books & Café [Link to About Us | Watermark Books] of Wichita, Kansas.
Wichita, an economically robust city of nearly half a million, was originally a village of Wichita Indians. Over the last century and a half, the city has earned various nicknames: “Cowtown” for its Sante Fe railhead along the Chisolm Trail, “Doo-dah” for its whimsical character represented by a local diner of the same name, and the “Air Capital of the World” for its importance as an aviation design, research, and manufacturing center. Wichita’s strong economy has led its residents to invest in obvious signifiers of high culture: a symphony, an opera house, festivals, parks, and numerous historical museums. The most enduring evidence of Wichita’s literary culture, however, is housed in a modest strip mall near the center of the city in the comfy neighborhood of College Hill.
I recently made two separate four-and-half-hour roundtrips from my home in Lawrence, Kansas, to Watermark Books & Café in Wichita to witness two authors launch their most recent books. Together, these two well-attended presentations demonstrate one of the main ways new owners Erin and Ryan Potter intend to achieve Watermark’s mission, which Erin describes as “to foster a love of reading among Wichitans and beyond, preserve this wonderful space, and support authors. We envision continuing to build on the warm and inclusive environment where everyone can find their next favorite book and connect with fellow readers.”
The first event involved a former student of mine, Page Getz, who grew up in Wichita. Page’s new novel, A Town with Half the Lights On (Sourcebooks Landmark) is set in the fictitious town of Goodnight, Kansas. Instead of reading from the text, Page was interviewed by Lynne Graham, Marketing & Events Coordinator for Watermark. Having read the novel twice, Lynne shared her observations and impressions with the audience. Most notably, Lynne described the impact of reading the story of the citizens of Goodnight, Kansas, as “a warm hug” but also commented on the story’s authenticity and considerable wit.
“Hosting visiting authors is a vital part of what makes Watermark a meaningful space in our community,” Co-owner Erin Potter says. “These events offer more than just the chance to meet an author, they create moments of connection, inspiration, and shared discovery that our customers truly value. In fact, we recently completed a customer feedback survey, and the number one request when asked about our offerings was for more author and community events. It’s clear that these experiences are appreciated.”
A month later I returned to Watermark to hear award-winning author Tim Bascom give a combination lecture and reading in the “Story Time” room on the lower level, a space devoted to children’s literature events, as well as events for adults whenever the upstairs café needs to remain open. Tim’s presentation for adults related to his new collection of short stories, Continental Drift (Main Street Rag), about characters whose adventures require them to travel between various points in the USA and Africa. Tim’s presentation included slides from his experiences as the son of African missionaries, along with readings of representative snippets from several individual stories as well as one entire—and entirely engaging—short story, “Why I Am There, Not Here.”
By everyone’s account, the key to Watermark’s ongoing success is its staff, including Operations Manager Bethany Bayne. Bethany originally joined Watermark in 2021 as a bookkeeper. She describes the two main parts of her current job as “maintaining efficiency” and “teaching book people about money.” She originally worked under the previous owner, Sarah Bagby, to whom she credits much of the store’s vision and success. Bethany also likes the energy the new owners, the Potters, bring to the store. “They’re also businesspeople. They want to build a sustainable community of book buyers. The customer base for books is aging. We need young families, Gen Z, millennials. College Hill residents can walk here and find a safe space. We’ve expanded our hours to 7:00 p.m. to make Watermark more convenient for them.”
“It’s important for an independent bookstore to have multiple revenue streams,” Bethany stresses. Aside from offering a wide variety of genres (literary fiction and nonfiction, romance, fantasy, history, and children’s literature), Watermark also sells multiple products related to reading and writing. And then there’s the café, whose literary-themed menu includes such classics as “Moby Dick” (tuna salad with pickle relish, hard-boiled eggs, and mayo on wheat bread) and “As You Like It” (a house salad with your choice of chicken, eggs, or tuna salad with balsamic vinaigrette).
“We want people to feel the pull to stop in for a cup of coffee and end up browsing for a new read or come in for a book and decide to stay and enjoy the café,” co-owner Erin says. “The two sides of Watermark complement each other in a way that feels natural and inviting. Many of our customers enjoy a good cup of coffee and a pastry just as much as discovering their next great read. We’re proud to offer a space where people can connect, whether it’s for a book club, a business meeting, or simply lunch with a friend.”
Despite the challenges faced by brick-and-mortar bookstores across the nation, Watermark Books & Café has managed not only to endure but to thrive. From its original staff of three, the store has grown to a total of 23 employees, nine of whom are full-time. “The welcoming atmosphere at Watermark starts with our team,” says Erin. “We know our regulars by name, and we enjoy getting to know every person who comes through our doors. The café staff remembers customers’ usual orders, and our booksellers offer thoughtful, personalized recommendations because they’ve read the books and take the time to get to know the interests of our customers.”
I asked Erin what motivated her to take on the daunting role of owning and operating an independent bookstore in today’s economy. I’ll let her answer conclude this review.
“Some of my favorite memories are from when I was on maternity leave with each of my girls. I’d take them on walks through the neighborhood, wrapped in a baby sling, and we’d stop at Watermark. It was the perfect little escape: browsing books, grabbing a coffee, and just getting out of the house for a bit. It became something I really looked forward to. Watermark has that kind of impact on the neighborhood; it’s a place where people feel comfortable, welcome, and connected. It’s been that for our family, and for so many others in the community.”
Watermark Books & Café is located in Lincoln Heights Shopping Center, 4701 East Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67218. Find Watermark Books & Café at Watermark Books.
Steve Heller is an award-winning novelist and short story writer and past president of The Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP). His latest novel, Return of the Ghost Killer, is forthcoming from Regal House Publishing in early 2027. Author photo by Aelita Parizek.
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