Main Street News

Get ‘Curious’ at Kingston’s new magazine shop
When Alanna Medlock was thinking about business ideas that would also create a community-based, hybrid arts space, one of the things that kept coming to her mind was that the mid-Hudson Valley didn’t have a dedicated magazine shop.
Alanna was always interested in magazines, but when she got a subscription to Interview Magazine as a teenager, that’s when everything changed. “I was smitten with print,” she mused. “I always loved the visual aspect of magazines, as well as the writing. I’ve always been a big reader, and I love long-form profiles and interviews of artists, creators, and people doing interesting things.” After living in the Hudson Valley for nearly 15 years, Alanna got the idea to open an independent magazine shop, similar to the ones in New York City that she frequented so often when she lived there.
She opened her Kingston shop, Curious, located on Broadway, in early September and has offered a sprawling selection of publications, gifts, and knick knacks since.
“Print is a dying industry” – or is it?
While some would argue that print publications have been on their last lifeline for years, Alanna believes that there is still a niche market that she can target in the Kingston area. “Print isn’t as mainstream anymore because so many read their journalism online, but there’s a passionate market for collectors and also for people who really enjoy having a physical magazine in their hands.”
For Alanna, the idea of taking the time to read a physical copy of a magazine is a form of self-care. “Treating yourself to the gift of spending time to sit down, maybe have a cup of coffee or tea, and enjoy a magazine is so different than reading on our phones,” she said. “I feel like the market is very much alive and well – the challenge for me is to connect with enough of those customers who want to read print magazines on a regular basis.”
Curating a diverse selection of publications
Alanna works with a distributor on the west coast that specifically caters to small, independent bookstores and magazine shops all over the country. She aims to have a mix of public affairs, news-oriented, and current affairs publications, as well as a decent-sized selection of literary magazines + journals, art + design, and film + music magazines. “There are so many creatives in this area, so I want to ensure that I’m catering to them as well.”
In addition to these, Alanna also likes to carry a small collection of other specialty magazines, including food + drink and science, among others. “My main goal is to have a variety, but probably not as many mainstream publications that you can find at the grocery store. I want to be carrying the publications that I know are harder to find.”
Outside of her distributor, Alanna is also working to carry a variety of journals and zines that are produced by members of the local community. She’s already had a handful of people reach out to her and share their zines with her, but she’s always looking to connect with more people in the community to carry their work in the store.
“It’s a big part of my vision to be connected to local artists and the community. Part of the fun of having the business is to be a part of what’s going on in town,” she shared.
In addition to publications, Curious also has a selection of gifts and knick knacks. In the vintage section at the back of the store, you can find housewares, mugs, vases, glassware, and other tchotchkes. True to the NYC-style magazine shops that inspired it, Curious also carries gum, candy, and other newsstand-oriented sundries, as well as small things that are useful for travel, such as mini first-aid kits and mini decorated pillboxes.
On the walls you can find artwork for sale created by local artists, and Alanna has a section dedicated to vintage copies of magazines, including old issues of Interview Magazine and Rolling Stone.
Creating a space for the community
Though the space is small, that doesn’t stop Alanna from hosting community-oriented events at Curious. In December, she hosted artists who curated a fridge show in which they brought an actual full-size refrigerator into the shop and used it to promote and sell their fridge magnets.
“I love these kinds of events – they’re so buoyant, especially in the dead of winter,” she shared. “It’s a nice, cozy thing to have a space where you can come and see work from local artists and be a part of the community.”
Curious has two events coming up in February: the first is a tea event, in which one of Alanna’s friends will be hosting a presentation on Japanese specialty teas, and the second is a Valentine’s Day card-making workshop. More information about upcoming events can be found on Curious’ Instagram here.
Likewise, Alanna is always looking for input from the community about what they’re interested in. “I’m always looking for ideas for what to carry and events to host. I have a request list where people can come in and write down the publications that I don’t carry, but that they’re interested in.”
Alanna also hosts a monthly show for WGXC, a volunteer community radio station based in Catskill, NY. The show – called There, There – is a free-form music show that centers around music, audio archives, and other curious sounds. “I would love to host some small acoustic shows here in the shop going forward.”
Curious is open on Thursday from 12pm to 4pm, Friday + Saturday from 12pm to 7pm and Sunday + Monday from 11am to 6pm at 352 Broadway in Kingston. Visit their website curiouskingston.com and follow them on Instagram @curiouskingston.