Sherwood Bookstore celebrates first anniversary

SHERWOOD, Ore. — Sherwood’s living room is marking a milestone and planning some fun new updates. 

The Sherwood Bookstore is celebrating its first anniversary on May 1, 2026. 

Owner Adam Bienvenu said doing business in Sherwood for the first year has been “a blast.”

“It’s been a ton of fun, we got to meet so many members of our community … we’ve spent a lot of time getting to know other business owners in the community and working with them,” Bienvenu said. “I think (the first year) went better than expected.”

Aside from stocking its shelves with amazing classic and new releases from all genres, the Bookstore hosts lots of bookish events, including romance book club, trivia book club, silent book club, writer’s night, puzzle night, and pens and needles — a craft night where attendees listen to a vinyl record. It also offers local wine, cider, and beer for those who want to stay awhile.

“I like being in a small town. My family has a long history here, and it’s fun to be able to directly engage with the Sherwood community by providing a service that I think was very much needed,” Bienvenu said.

However, the Bookstore has some big changes slated for its events, recently adding a stage to its decor for possible open mic nights, poetry slams, and maybe even live jazz.

“We just finished building that stage … that’s to help facilitate more community-focused events,” Bienvenu said.

At the March Writer’s Night club, where local writers meet to alpha read each other’s work, provide feedback, and discuss publishing strategies, Bienvenu invited a guest speaker for the first time: Diana Page Jordan, award-winning multimedia journalist, author, and book coach.

Jordan spoke about her journey into journalism and writing, joining a writing workshop with other authors including Cheryl Strayed and Chuck Palahniuk, navigating the publishing world, and her transition to helping other writers become authors.

“I love transformational nonfiction that is a hero's journey — basically people who have gone through something difficult in their lives, healers or heroes or entrepreneurs … and then they figure it out, and they heal,” Jordan said. “And they want to spread the word. They want other people to go through the grace of the healing … a book that's got stories and brings people in and tells other people's stories, so we're not alone.”

Bienvenu stays connected to the community in numerous ways, joining the Sherwood Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

The Bookstore also donated hundreds of books to the Marjorie Stewart Senior Center, The Springs senior living, and the Sherwood YMCA.

“I’ve got a lot of positive responses from that, including people where having access to those books is helping them improve their English, so that’s been really cool,” Bienvenu said. “We’re just trying to do everything we can to get books into the hands of the people who need them.” 

This summer, the Bookstore has plans to host the second annual Sherwood Battle of the Books, known affectionately as SherBoB, which is an adult summer reading program.

“Buy your books from us,” Bienvenu said. “Seriously, come pre-order ACOTAR.”