Niche Books Recognized with Emerging Retailer of the Year Award

St. Paul, MN (October 1, 2026) – Minnesota Retailers is proud to recognize Niche Books, with the Emerging Retailer of the Year award as part of the 2026-2027 Minnesota’s Retail Champions program.

After leaving a corporate career to pursue her passion for books and literacy, Ashley Christopherson opened Niche Books in historic downtown Lakeville. The independent bookstore carries new and used books for all ages, along with book-inspired gifts, while offering the carefully curated selections and personal recommendations readers value. Through author appearances, children’s activities and creative events such as a Book Lover’s New Year’s Eve celebration, Christopherson has built a welcoming destination centered on discovery and connection. By bringing an energetic, locally owned retail business to a historic storefront, Christopherson is contributing to downtown Lakeville’s vitality while demonstrating the continued strength and relevance of bookstores.

“Ashley Christopherson took a bold entrepreneurial leap and created something downtown Lakeville was ready to embrace,” said Bruce Nustad, president of Minnesota Retailers. “In a remarkably short time, Niche Books has become more than a bookstore. It is a gathering place, a community destination and an important part of downtown’s continued vitality. Ashley’s creativity and commitment to her customers demonstrate why locally owned retailers remain so essential to Minnesota communities. We are proud to recognize Niche Books as the Emerging Retailer of the Year.”

“Niche Books is a great example of what an emerging leader can bring to a community,” says Krista Jech, president of the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce. “Ashley has taken her vision for an independent bookstore and turned it into more than a retail business. She has created a place where people of all ages can gather, connect and discover something new. Her willingness to try new ideas, build relationships and invest in downtown Lakeville is helping ensure our historic downtown remains a destination where people want to spend their time. She understands that a strong downtown is built by businesses that give people a reason to come back again and again.”

“We are incredibly honored to be recognized as the Emerging Retailer of the Year. Niche Books was created to be a place where people could discover great books, connect with other readers and feel at home in their community,” said Christopherson. “The response from Lakeville and the surrounding area has been more meaningful than I could have imagined. This award belongs to our wonderful team, our customers and everyone who has helped turn the dream of an independent bookstore into such a vibrant gathering place.”

The Niche Books team will accept the award at Retail Rally on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, starting at 2:00 p.m. The event—held at Brookview in Golden Valley—will feature an insightful keynote presentation from University of St. Thomas Associate Professor Seth Ketron, Ph.D., titled “AI in the Customer Journey: Real Insights for Retail Leaders.” For more event details, visit www.retailrally.com.

Click here to see all the 2026-2027 Minnesota's Retail Champions!

Click here to see a video featuring this award winner!

About Minnesota Retailers: Minnesota Retailers is a non-profit association formed to improve communities through a holistic investment in retail, representing small, regional, and national retailers. Our mission is to ensure collective success across Minnesota by advancing retail for businesses, employees, consumers, and policymakers. Our vision is to be the driving force in the evolution of the state's retail landscape through advocacy, valuable insights, and championing innovation. More at www.mnretail.org.

Contact: Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (651) 227-6631