First weeks in a new home renew life for iconic second-hand bookstore

Hard To Find Books, the iconic second-hand Auckland bookstore, is finally getting settled into its new home.

The 43-year-old business was facing potential closure after its previous location on St. Benedict's Street was put up for sale by the landlord back in August 2025.

Formerly set up in an Edwardian two-story convent, the bookstore was home to over 200,000 books with a special atmosphere that couldn’t be found elsewhere.

Owner Warwick Jordan has had to relocate the business before, but departing from St. Benedict’s Street was a difficult transition.

“I didn't want to leave Onehunga, that's where we were previously, and we were there for 35 years.”

“We had St Benedict's to go to. That was just like, wow, this is home. This is where we belong,” says Warwick.

Warwick says the hardest part beyond moving thousands of books, is arranging the new shop to satisfy fans and honour the old location.

“How do I make it interesting or at least something different from everywhere else, given that we're basically operating with a concrete box?”

Despite losing the church’s historic character, Warwick is thoughtful of things like book launches or poetry readings, “because by keeping all the open plan, you can probably fit sort of 50 to 100 people in here”, says Warwick.

Hard To Find Books’ established community awaited its return and even came in to ask how they could help donate to the store.

“I mean I got talked into doing a give a little page. I was very reluctant to do it because it's sort of like standing there with your little tin cup and we are supposed to be a business,” says Warwick.

Although Warwick felt guilty asking for donations, the community's help made a big difference.

“It was really good, and it really did help. This floor that we're on was a bare concrete floor.” says Warwick.

For staff member Shalom Ewington, the new property already feels like home.

“I absolutely love that there's so much more space here. 8,500 square feet, 3 times what we had across the road,” says Shalom.

While the new building is a fresh start, Shalom says the store's loyal customers are still front and centre.

“It's just so nice seeing our regular customers. They become friends, so they're all coming in to see and to enjoy,”

Although the new property may not have the characteristics of the old two-storey convent, Warwick hopes the store retains the familiar atmosphere customers love.

“I hope they feel like they're walking home, they walk in and go, yeah, baby, this is the place I wanted to find.”

*AI was not used in the creation of this story