CHEYENNE - Bonsai Books, a locally owned book store in northern Cheyenne, announced at the end of August 2025 that they were beginning the process of closing due in part to challenges in running a local Wyoming business. Their final day is scheduled for Thursday, November 20th, 2025, and they are hosting a raffle in collaboration with other small businesses.
A glance at the history
Located along Quincy Road and just east of Yellowstone Road, this building that looks suspiciously like a house was built in 1995 according to the Laramie County Property Assessor; a detailed history isn't currently known at Optopolis, but as of 2011 Google Maps Street View, a place called Doc Martin's Ear, Nose, & Throat Clinic was present at this location. The sign was still present as of July 2021, but the parking lot appeared overgrown with weeds.
 Doc Martin's seen in the 2010s - Google Maps Street View |
By the end of September 2023, Bonsai Books was in the process of setting up shop inside of the building. Although books were the vocal point of the shop, the book store also featured a coffee bar that advertised 3M Reverse Osmosis Filtration. The book store was scheduled to open on Saturday, October 21st, 2023.
The menu for the coffee bar then-advertised coffee (from local-Snowy Elk Coffee Co), hot cocoa, apple cider, hot tea, "London Fog," and Chocolate Milk Cartons. Around the building, various artwork was painted onto the building featuring their logo, recognized Wyoming critters, and even fictional characters. At the bottom of the painted version of their logo is the text, "James Overstreet 2023."
Bonsai Books announces closure
On August 28th, Bonsai Books made a facebook post which stated the following:
"From our family at Bonsai Books. Thank you.
"To everyone who has walked through our doors, shared a conversation, bought a book, or simply stopped by- your support over the past two years has meant the world the world to us. We've met so many incredible people along the way, we are deeply grateful.
"As we turn the page to a new chapter in life, we invite you to stop by and grab a great book or two for yourself or a friend, sip on one of our delicious drinks, and help us celebrate the journey we've shared together.
"With love and thanks,
"The Bonsai Books Family"
| If the above tour video of Bonsai Books doesn't load, click here to see it on YouTube. |
Throughout September, the store was open on various Fridays and Saturdays and featured various sales. The coffee bar is scheduled to close on November 1st. Bonsai Book Club will continue after the store's closure, but is planned to meet up at a different location once Bonsai Books closes. There may still be a possibility of Bonsai Books reopening under different ownership, but for now, the store is scheduled to close.
According to Sara, gift cards will be honored. Sara told Optopolis that she is targeting a closure by or before Christmas 2025.
But why? Why'd it open, and why is it closing?
Wyoming Tribune Eagle's Alyssa Tolman picked up this story and discussed some of the reasoning behind the closure. Sara John opened the shop with a passion for reading and a lack of an area-book store back in 2023; Barnes & Noble had closed their old location and not yet opened a new location, as was reported here on Optopolis.
For those who haven't kept up with the story on B&N, it was in November 2023 when Barnes & Noble finally opened a new store at the old Natural Grocers location; their temporary mall store near JoAnn and JAX--which even had the permits necessary to combine two spaces into one--never came to fruition, and those two spaces have since been replaced by Madhouse BJJ and InteractionAE.
| Various perspectives of Bonsai Books including exterior artwork (top), the store interior (middle), and the coffee bar (bottom) - Optopolis |
Alyssa Tolman goes on to share that, according to Sara, the reasoning for the closure of Bonsai Books wasn't due to a lack of success, but, "more so because there is a lot of effort that goes into owning a small business." In addition, Sara felt that she had to jump through hoops to get her store open and to stay open, a detail which Sara confirmed with Optopolis.
Furthermore, personal life circumstances have also taken their toll on Sara, including losing close and loved ones in and around her family. As mentioned above, Sara still plans to hold the Bonsai Book Club, but once Bonsai Books closes, the book club will have to find a new meet up location. Further yet, there is at least some concern over the gradually increasing shift of using digital resources instead of buying print books.
Bonsai Books hosting a "store closing raffle" with local businesses
In October 2025, Bonsai Books posted to their Facebook page that on November 20th, they will hold the drawing for the raffle which will include multiple prizes and winners featuring local businesses.
 Bonsai discusses raffle plans - Bonsai Books / Facebook |
Between now and November 1st, 2025, small businesses will be bringing stuff over for the raffle. Those interested in participating in the raffle can purchase raffle tickets between now and November 20th at one dollar per piece. Alternatively and for every $30 of books purchased at Bonsai Books, you'll get one ticket.
Location and Hours [Updated 10/06]
Bonsai Books is located at 126 Quincy Road, near Albertsons North and Uncle Charlie's. According to a new Facebook post from Bonsai Books, the store hours for the rest of October as well as November are as follows:
- Sun. Oct 12 - 11 AM to 5 PM
- Sat. Oct 18 - 11 AM to 5 PM
- Sun. Oct 26 - 11 AM to 5 PM
- Sat. Nov 01 - 11 AM to 5 PM
- Sat. Nov 08 - 11 AM to 5 PM
- Sun. Nov 16 - 11 AM to 5 PM
- Thu. Nov 20 - 12 PM to 4 PM
- On November 15th, they will be at the Vendor Bazaar in Laramie WY (710 E Garfield Street) from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Bonsai Books' neighbor, WyKnots, will continue to operate inside of this building as usual.
UPDATED FINAL DAY INFO - Actual Final Day announced! Also, last day of coffee shop
Bonsai Books posted, today at the time of writing, that the final day of Bonsai Books will actually be Small Business Saturday which is Saturday, November 29th, and that is when the raffle drawing will occur. Raffle tickets will be available until 2 PM on Saturday, November 29th, and tickets are still $1 each. Their doors are scheduled to open at 11 AM and close at 4 PM that day.
As for the coffee shop, it will stay open until 5 PM on Saturday, November 1st. However, once again, the book store will continue operating until November 29th at 4 PM.
Let us know...
What do you think should take over Bonsai Books' space if a new owner doesn't take over? Do you think another local book store should open in Cheyenne, and do you think someone should buy Sara's shop? Let us know what you think in the comments!
PUBLISHED: 10/06/2025 at 11:00 AM
UPDATED: 10/06/2025 at 5:39 PM to correct and expand upon store hours for October and November.
UPDATED: 10/12/2025 at 12:00 PM to add new info about the closing date.
UPDATED: 10/15/2025 at 12:20 PM to correct raffle info as confirmed by a new Facebook post from Bonsai Books.