Heartleaf Books

Business Overview

Heartleaf Books is unique! We're Rhode Island's only employee-owned, queer owned, cooperative, cat-managed bookstore, and the first bookstore ever in Federal Hill.

As a cooperative, we're also community-owned, which means that customers can purchase a share in the business in exchange for discounts on books in-store and online, and the opportunity to sell their used books to the co-op. Our co-op members can also serve on the Board of Directors, who help run the store and make business decisions along with founders and worker-owners, Caroline Vericker and Mads Vericker. Sisters and librarians, Caroline and Mads founded Heartleaf Books in 2021, and built the business from weekend pop-ups at Haus of Codec and Providence Flea markets to the first brick-and-mortar bookstore on Federal Hill in Providence.

At the store, you'll find a carefully-curated selection of new and used books on our shelves, from queer staples to new releases and bestsellers, plus books by local authors and tote bags, stickers, cards, and more. We also host a monthly book club and special member nights with refreshments and discounts.