If you have questions, we might have some answers!

How long have you been in business?
Casey originally opened Golden Bee on November 23, 2019. She took the business from idea to brick-and-mortar space in 3 months, originally occupying just 750 square feet in a mini shop in the Village of Liverpool. As the only employee she was able to stay in business during the pandemic. In April of 2022 Golden Bee was able to move around the corner to a larger location where we have been ever since.

Do you purchase or sell used books?
We do not. We are strictly a new-books store. We suggest Books End, Books and Melodies, Parthenon Books, and That’s What She Read for local used books.

Do you have an online store?
We don’t, but we’re a proud affiliate of Bookshop.org, where you can enjoy traditional online shopping and still support the store. Bookshop.org also supports ebook purchases now! And you can purchase audiobooks and support indies like us (instead of A*dible) via Libro.fm.

Do you host private events in your shop?
We do on a limited basis. Some weeks our calendar is packed or we have reduced staff availability, which means we don’t have the bandwidth to host. If you are interested in a private event please review this information.

Can you donate to our cause?
While we are deeply committed to fostering a vibrant literary community and contributing to the cultural enrichment of our neighborhood, due to our nature as a small business operating with very thin margins, we are generally unable to accommodate requests for financial donations, sponsorship, or gifts. Every dollar we earn goes directly back into maintaining our operations, supporting our staff, and stocking the diverse range of books you find on our shelves.
That being said, we do try to support a few local nonprofits through purchasing partnerships that lead to direct book donations. Our consistent partnerships include Book VanGo and the United Way of CNY, with the potential for more in the future.

Can you carry my book in your store?
Due to the size of our shop we keep our stock fairly small and generally do not carry publications from small presses or that are self-published. We also do not take books on consignment. As a way to still bring attention to local authors we host author popups where the author retains 100% of the profits from the event. We open submissions each winter and then host the events on Saturdays from June-October.
If you are an author with local connections whose book is published through an established publisher or an imprint of those houses, we may be able to carry your book.

How can I work at Golden Bee?
Hiring is rare at the bookshop mostly due to the relatively small staff. In the event that we are looking for new employees there will be an announcement on all of our social media, as well as application information on the front page of our website. If that information is not there, then we are not currently hiring.

Can I bring my dog?
Please do! There are a couple dogs that have frequented Golden Bee and I’m always happy to see them. Yes, sometimes energetic tails knock books down, but I never take it personally. Sometimes I knock things down when I’m happy too. We have also been happy to have the rare visit from a cat!

What about my bird?
I had a bird trapped in the store once and it pooped all over the place, so no thank you.

I have a question that’s not here, what do I do?
Head over to our contact form and we’ll do our best to help.