Our Commitment to Building Community
Tardigrade's Bookshelf is more than a bookstore or bar—it's a resilient community hub where curiosity, connection, and compassion come together. Located in a beautifully restored 1876 VFW building in downtown Appleton, we pair sober-forward hospitality with educational programming, community partnerships, and mutual aid. Inspired by our tiny but mighty namesake, we're building a place where everyone can learn, belong, and help our community thrive.
Why We ♡ Community
Before we even opened The Tardigrade’s Bookshelf, we loved to help building spaces that fostered community. Community spaces are hard to come by, especially for those of us who are sober, neurodiverse, queer, or introverted. We believe people deserve places where they can gather without pressure, overstimulation, or exclusion.
Tardigrade’s Bookshelf was built around the idea that social spaces can be more inclusive and more thoughtful. Whether someone is sober, neurodiverse, queer, introverted, young, older, or simply looking for a quieter place to exist alongside others, they deserve spaces that support them.
Books, conversation, art, education, and civic engagement have always brought people together. We want to continue that tradition by creating a space where curiosity and community can thrive side by side.
How We Use Our Space to Build Community
We approach community-building intentionally and collaboratively. We’re always looking for new ideas, and our community connections are always growing.
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Offering sober-friendly and low-pressure social experiences, including a large selection of mocktails and non-alcoholic beverages
Creating an alternative to overstimulating nightlife and drinking culture
Maintaining an intentionally age-inclusive environment
Prioritizing LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and accessibility, with extra care taken to support ADA-friendly experiences
Operating a membership model that gives back to schools and mission-aligned nonprofit organizations
Providing resources for nonprofits, including meeting space, storage, and gathering areas
Hosting networking opportunities, bookclubs, educational programming, and civically engaged community events
Partnering with local businesses, artists, creators, and educators
Supporting local artists through featured exhibitions and collaborations
Exploring shared commercial and creative spaces that benefit other community projects
Maintaining a community fridge and other mutual aid efforts that directly support neighbors in need
We know that community is something built together, and we’re always looking for new ways to support the people around us.
Why We Need Community Support
Creating and maintaining an inclusive community space takes ongoing care, investment, and collaboration.
Tardigrade’s Bookshelf operates within a historic building that requires preservation, stabilization, and thoughtful modernization. We are actively working to improve environmental efficiency, air quality, accessibility, and long-term sustainability while protecting the character and history of the space itself.
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Community support helps us:
Preserve and responsibly adapt a historic property for modern community use
Improve energy efficiency and environmental sustainability
Transform underutilized areas into usable spaces for nonprofits, clubs, and community programming
Continue offering affordable and inclusive cultural activities
Support underserved community members through safe, welcoming gathering spaces
Serve as a model for how historic buildings can be thoughtfully restored and repurposed for community benefit
Every membership, donation, visit, partnership, event attendance, and shared recommendation helps sustain this work. We are deeply grateful to everyone helping us build something meaningful together.
Your Support Matters
Support from the community means everything, and every donation helps us maintain this historic building to serve as an inclusive, thoughtful community space for generations to come.
Community Support Through Fiscal Sponsorship
Tardigrade's Bookshelf is proud to partner with Community Health & Housing, Inc. (CHHC) as our fiscal sponsor. This partnership is more than a financial arrangement, it's an extension of our shared commitment to meeting the needs of our community. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, CHHC enables tax-deductible donations and grant opportunities that directly support our community initiatives.
At Tardigrade's, we work alongside volunteers and local organizations to provide clothing, food, educational opportunities, and welcoming gathering spaces where people can learn, connect, and find support and fellow nerds. Through CHHC, we are able to expand that impact by connecting our community with access to essential hygiene and household cleaning products, resources that are often overlooked but are critical to health, dignity, and stability.
