Empty Book

How did this place come about and what made it different from the start?
Libro Vacío is an online bookstore that began to take shape during the RELI-UANL booksellers' diploma program in 2024. It officially launched on February 14th (I swear it was a coincidence). My goal was to create a bookstore with a wide catalog of short stories, from both commercial and independent publishers. Gradually, a parallel selection of imported books from various genres developed. I like to think that what made it different was that, along with the fact that I always try to be very transparent and natural in everything I do: no hyped influencers, no TikTok narratives, no fancy marketing jargon, just simple dialogue. We want the books to be the stars.

What part of the day, space, or creative process do those who work here enjoy the most?
The selection of books. Finding the rarest or most unusual ones, or those that have never even reached any nearby bookstore, has become an addictive challenge. And for some reason, preparing the packages—the calm of a mechanical activity, wrapping them—gives me a great deal of peace.

If someone is coming in for the first time, what should they not miss?
It's a very peaceful atmosphere, perfect for reading, something you can't always do in similar spaces. Although I'd head straight to the stationery section too.

What has been an interesting challenge that has made you rethink something about the project?
Unfair competition regarding book prices, online megastores, and the limited support for culture in Mexico.

What influence, idea, or reference continues to shape the way you work today?
We strive to provide excellent service and helpful recommendations using the tools and resources available to us. It's difficult to know everything about every book, but we put in a lot of effort.

What place, project, or person has inspired you recently and why?
I know that lately many current trends are influenced by Japan, and I'm no exception. But having explored a large part of Jimbocho, the book district in Tokyo, and going into as many bookstores as my feet and energy would allow, made me believe that it's possible for so many bookstores to coexist in the same city (and almost in the same space) and that they're all visited for the very different things they have to offer. It's an incredible place, even though I understood almost nothing.

If your space could invite someone to collaborate for a day, who would it be and what would you do together?
Julieta Venegas is a great reader and it would be interesting to have her as a bookseller for a day, but we really love collaborating with anyone who connects with what we do (or try to do).

Is there an object, corner or detail of the place that has a story that few people know?
For a brief period in September, we shared a small space in a beautiful old house in downtown Monterrey, where we were about to launch a bookstore by appointment only. But a fire broke out in one of the rooms, and we had to leave. Strangely, the books weren't affected. Someone once told me it was a very mystical event, and it was. I happened to arrive just as it was happening. A bookstore's worst nightmare.

We are now in a space, equally beautiful, called Fábrica Objeto, which is a concept store who also owns a café called Café Hormiga, located in a somewhat industrial area of ​​Monterrey. I really like how the space and its location complement the surrounding area and the neighbors; it's in a place where you wouldn't expect to find something like this.

If this project were a city, a book, or a record, which would it be and why?
Although it doesn't have much direct justification, Josefina Vicens's "The Empty Book". Like José García, I want to think that books also have a boring life and suffer from the impossibility of being read.

Answers by Victoria Carreon P., founder and bookseller of Empty Book.