Zandbroz Variety, a landmark bookstore and gift shop in downtown Fargo, is set to close its doors in June after 30 years of operation. The store, which played a pivotal role in the rejuvenation of the downtown area starting in 1991, is owned by the Danz family – Greg, Renee, and their daughter Josie.
Greg Danz expressed his satisfaction with the store’s accomplishments and the timing of their departure: “The last few years have been our best ever, and I’d rather go out on top while things are good than any other way.”
Over the past three decades, downtown Fargo has undergone a remarkable transformation, with an influx of housing, restaurants, boutiques, and investment from North Dakota State University. When Zandbroz first opened, such a future seemed like an impossible dream.
“Our downtown was a bleak landscape that the city had largely ignored in pursuit of unbridled growth and commercialization (i.e., franchises and strip malls),” the family wrote in a heartfelt farewell Facebook post. “We saw the beauty and possibilities of what a downtown should be: a conservation of beautiful old buildings, a utopia of opportunities for small independent businesses that would bring new energy and ideas and a place that celebrates diversity and encourages embracing creativity.”
Brothers Jeff and Greg Danz opened their first Zandbroz location in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1989, which remains open today. The Fargo store opened in the former Leeby’s grocery store and for many years included a coffee shop and eatery in the back called Dakota Soda, which later became a space for selling used books.
As a bookstore, Zandbroz has been renowned for stocking regional and lesser-known authors while offering a venue for readings and music. The store has cultivated a loyal following from both Fargo-Moorhead locals and Twin Cities residents.
“The first person I told from Minneapolis was [author] Louise Erdrich, she’s a good friend of the store,” said Greg Danz, although he was unable to persuade her to open a Fargo outpost of Birchbark Books to succeed Zandbroz.
The exact closing date has not yet been determined, but Danz intends to keep the transition “short and sweet.” As for the future, the family expressed their excitement for new possibilities: “Retirement does not quite describe what awaits; instead, an exploration of the unknown without the pressure or vigilance required to keep Zandbroz open and vibrant seven days a week, 360 days a year.”
Josie Danz is currently residing in Virginia, where she is integrating Zandbroz’s principles and the lessons learned in Fargo into her new endeavors.
The Danz family expressed their deep gratitude for their loyal customers, known affectionately as “Zandbrozians”: “You have grown older with us, your children have become our customers, and we’ve shared your sorrows and joys. You have allowed us to survive and thrive and were there for us through the rise of e-readers and Amazon, floods, and a pandemic. We will miss all that Zandbroz has ever been, but we’ll miss the Zandbroz community most of all.”
The closing of Zandbroz Variety marks the end of an era for downtown Fargo and will undoubtedly leave a void in the community. However, the legacy of the store and the impact it has had on the city’s cultural landscape will continue to be felt for years to come.
