The Little Bookstore That Won’t Die
Westside Stories opened in 2011 - just down the street at 205 Grant Street. Joe and Jeanenne Petri served readers on Buffalo’s west side for nearly 10 years, adding Gather & Game in 2019.
Unfortunately, Covid came along and led to the sale of the store. Kevin Christner bought the business and Westside Stories moved to its present location at 398 Grant St.
Flash forward to October 2022, when Keri Thomas-Whiteside and Bob Whiteside purchased the little bookstore that could. They proudly provided the neighborhood and Western New York with the best used books money could buy!
In 2026, changes in their personal life led to the decision to put the store up for sale once again. Enter Steve and Mindy, here to prove Westside Stories is the little bookstore that just wouldn’t die!
“It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.”
– Oscar Wilde
About Us
We are the proud new owners of Westside Stories. Our goal is to create a welcoming space for the community and book lovers of all kinds!
Steve and Mindy are friends who met through a shared love of books. Our story started in 2013 when we met as book sellers at a big box bookstore. Even though the job ended, our friendship has continued. When the opportunity to purchase this little bookstore arose, what started as a joking conversation materialized into a business plan and became our new reality. Owning a bookstore is a dream come true for both of us.
