Located in the heart of suburban Kansas City, Seven Stories is owned and operated by the “youngest bookseller in America”. At just 12 -years old Halley Vincent started her first bookstore after successfully operating a community Bookmobile she began 3 years earlier. Her first store operated with an astonishingly tiny 97 square feet, selling books to adults, children, and eventually a few schools. Relocating to a bigger space across from Shawnee City Hall last November provided an opportunity to expand the selections to offer a small variety of Mandarin and Spanish language titles, two of her three most common bilingual requests. This also completed a family cycle begun 40 years earlier when Halley’s father immigrated from Taiwan, struggling to learn English and fit into his new American life. At 15 Halley is aware that she is an uncommon entrepreneur, but as she continues to move forward in business she places community and culture at the center of her professional work. Halley is known for her inclusive book selection, her partnerships with area businesses, and for her service work to animal shelter and literacy agencies. Seven Stories is the only indie bookstore in Shawnee and the only Asian-owned bookstore in Kansas and Missouri.
