POST FALLS, Idaho – Coffee connoisseurs, book worms, and community members alike will be intrigued with the recently opened Kindred & Co. in Post Falls. The business, which opened on leap day, houses both a bookstore and a bistro in its 14,000 square foot building.
Kindred is the joint project of business partners Elizabeth Harrison and Selinna Maefau, whose mission is to create a kind, comfortable, and welcoming environment. The Western Washington University alumni seek to give community members a “third place.” According to their website, this place is separate from home and work, “where friends connect, ideas are shared, and inspiration is found.”
“We talk a lot about being a place where magic can be found,” said Maefau. “It’s nice to get an escape from those other places.”
The ornate, partly brick building is complete with multiple balconies, an elevator, and a domed atrium. In addition to both the dining room and lounge seating, patrons have a study space available in the second story conservatory. The business intends to host events in their facility in the future.
According to Kindred & Co.’s website, their bookstore contains 20,000 titles that are hand-selected. It goes on to describe their “wide and inclusive selection of handpicked books, uniquely artisan gifts,” and other food items.
Community members have scrutinized the business for carrying certain controversial products, including new age and occult books and gifts. Displeased visitors have circulated online photos of products such as tarot decks, crystals, and book titles such as How to Be an Astrologer and The Black Arts.
To the left of the main entrance on the inside, visitors are greeted by multi tiered display racks featuring gifts like candles, incense, crystals, and tarot decks. Behind these racks is a bookcase dedicated to witchcraft and astrology related books.
The children’s section is located in a multicolored corner on the second floor, complete with pillows and stuffed animals. The adjacent young adults section proudly displays titles like Hexed and Hell Followed With Us on its lower shelf facing the kid’s section. The latter book’s content warning lists explicit gore, transphobia, Christian terrorism, and attempted suicide.
“We want to have something for just about every genre,” said Maefau.
Harrison said that environments like theirs are designed for discovery, where people find books “they didn’t even know” they wanted. Furthermore, though not everyone appreciates these books, they are potentially what “person behind you” is looking for.
“Broadening your horizons is an idea with a bookstore,” said Harrison. “We don’t want to alienate anybody.”
Understanding the community’s needs is an evolving process for Kindred & Co. Harrison explained that they’re still getting “a handle on what on what [they’re] looking for, and what the community is looking for.”
“We need to get our sea legs,” said Harrison. “There’s going to be hiccups.”
Despite this, the business partners are adamant that objections to their inventory’s content will not result in their removal.
“We won’t pull,” said Maefau.
“We definitely don’t believe in censorship,” said Harrison. “It’s not an unusual thing for people to carry.”
In defense of these spiritually themed products, Maefau suggested that many customers aren’t bothered by their content, but appreciate them for their aesthetic value.
“For a lot of people it’s buying a beautiful thing,” said Maefau. “It’s not as scary as people think.”
Across the street from the new bookstore is the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and its boys academy. Father Vicente Griego, the church’s Rector, remarked that Kindred “probably [has] the nicest building in Post Falls” though remained concerned about the ethics of some of its products.
“It is a bit of a concern,” said Griego. “There are revolutionary ideas being expounded in that bookstore.”
Griego was particularly concerned about a book entitled Banned Books for Kids: Reading Lists and Activities for Teaching Kids to Read Censored Literature. After being shown the book by a church member, he found its content was “inciting ideas for revolution.” Griego also mentioned a book entitled Witchcraft for Girls as being problematic.
Occult books serve as an introduction to dark arts from Griego’s perspective. He fears the lasting influence this material can have on impressionable minds, and could determine who’s running “the local coven” in the years to come.
“That’s a recipe for disaster,” said Griego. “Truth is truth and error is error. It’s as simple as that.”
We won’t pull.”
Selinna Maefau
Not everyone is upset by the presence of these paranormal products. In the first few weeks of operation, the business has seen a surge of activity in both their bookstore and bistro. The kitchen was forced to serve a limited menu due to supply shortage less than two weeks after opening. Kindred & Co.’s social media has also received an overwhelming positive response.
Kindred & Co. is the first commercial establishment of the Millworx community, a redevelopment project on the previous site of the Idaho Veneer Co. mill, which closed in 2020. Millworx is a multi-use project that intends to blend residential and commercial spaces with the intent of creating an “engaging urban district.”
“Post Falls, Reimagined. Luxurious Urban Living,” is the tagline of the project on their website. The 50+ acre site will have a value estimated to be anywhere from $150 to $200 million. A&A Construction and Development has partnered with Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty to develop the project.
Kindred & Co. is the only project under Millworx’s umbrella that was developed by a different contractor, Leone & Keeble Inc. Despite this, Harrison said that “[they’re] definitely still apart of Millworx.”
“We’re so excited to get involved with them,” said Harrison. “It’s going to be really great for Post Falls.”
