Image by Celia Hoffman Thea Lamarre Anderson, left, and her parents Laura and Greg, not pictured, run lala books, a beloved independent bookstore in the heart of Lowell.
Laura and Greg Lamarre Anderson and their daughter Thea have long had a deep affection for the city of Lowell. Laura and Greg are Lowell natives, Thea spent a lot of time in the city when she was growing up, and all three are UMass Lowell alumni.
But the family felt something was missing in the city: a downtown bookstore. Five years ago, they took it upon themselves to change that. In July 2021, they opened lala books on Market Street in the heart of downtown Lowell. Since then, the independent bookstore has built a loyal customer base and created a hub for celebrating Lowell’s love of literature and community.
All three are grateful for the connections they have cultivated with community members who are drawn to browsing the store’s shelves, lingering in the welcoming atmosphere and attending the many events held there.
“Lowell has an amazing community, and I think more and more, UMass Lowell is a stronger and stronger part of that,” says Laura, who graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in English literature.
Laura spent 10 years as an elementary teacher in the Lowell Public Schools. Now, at lala books, she makes sure young readers have a well-stocked children’s section to explore and enjoy. Greg, who graduated in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, has kept his day job at UKG but stays involved with the store.
Thea, who earned a bachelor’s degree in English (creative writing) in 2021, says UMass Lowell helped her prepare to own and operate a bookstore in the city she loves.
“At UMass Lowell, I really learned how to work and communicate with people, which helped in this new endeavor I was taking on,” she says.
Growing up in Westford, Thea fondly remembers her parents bringing her to their hometown of Lowell every weekend to explore the city and its rich culture.
The store opened as the world was emerging from the hold of the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when many people were craving connection and community. And that is exactly what so many booklovers have found at lala.
“For a city of our size and all of the lifelong learning that happens here, we thought it was strange Lowell didn’t already have an independent bookstore,” says Laura.
As head buyer, Thea makes sure to curate an assorted selection of books for the store. In addition to the books, puzzles, games and local artwork sold, lala books hosts a variety of events for the community, such as “Lowell Stories” storytelling workshops, special author visits and diverse selection of book clubs for every niche and interest. Readers looking for romance may check out the Simply Romantic group. Those interested in science fiction may partake in Tales with Teeth.
“Our book clubs are an opportunity to explore different genres and practice those skills of critical thinking but in a really casual fun atmosphere, with a book that you like,” says Laura.
With their annual “Share the PRIDE” book drive, they stock little free libraries around town with LGBTQ+ books in the month of June. As they celebrate their five-year anniversary, they are thinking of new ways to engage the community.
Thea strongly encourages fellow UMass Lowell students and alumni to visit the store, as it’s a welcoming place to hang out and take a break from class.
“We’re a great place to dip your toe into the city and the culture that you are learning and growing in,” says Thea.
Their favorite part of running the store? The connections and friendships they have made.
“We get these stories about the impact that an offhand book recommendation has on our patrons. It’s amazing to have that kind of impact on somebody in the community,” says Laura.
Thea remarks on the genuine lifelong friendships she's made through lala books.
“There are always customers coming in and saying ‘I've wanted to talk to you about this book forever. I'm so glad that you're there.’”
The Lamarre Andersons maintain that lala books couldn’t have taken root anywhere but Lowell.
“For us, it's about the people and the community that we're creating, and that has been our favorite part this whole time,” says Thea. “Books are a perk.”