Maze Books Sold Minority Stake to Four New Partners

The Rockford bookstore owners brought on new investors to support expansion and operations.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Rows of wooden bookstore shelves filled with colorful books and a library ladder, captured in warm, soft natural light. — Maze Books in Rockford has sold a minority equity stake to four new partners to expand literary programming and launch a new publishing imprint. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Maze Books has sold a minority equity stake to four new business partners, who will assist with literary programming and book selection. Owners Dave and Kim Pedersen will retain majority control of the Rockford bookstore.

Why it matters

The owners sought additional support to help expand the store's literary activities while mitigating the risk of employee burnout. The partnership enables the business to grow its capacity for event programming and publication.

The bookstore has produced four books to date and operates at 406 E. State St. The new partnership agreement followed six months of formal discussions.

The players

Dave and Kim Pedersen

They are the founders and majority owners of the Maze Books retail and publishing operation.

Jenna Goldsmith

She is one of the four new business partners and served as the Rockford city poet laureate.

The details

The four new partners, including former city poet laureate Jenna Goldsmith, will staff counter shifts and assist in operations. The expansion plans include growing the trade catalog for poetry and fiction and launching a letterpress imprint.

Maze Books opened at its current 406 E. State St. location in October 2023.
Jenna Goldsmith served as city poet laureate between 2023 and 2025.
The parties held partnership discussions over six months from March 2026 to September 2026.
The ownership change was detailed in a report published on September 28, 2026.

Market Landscape

This move mirrors a wider industry trend where independent retailers adopt collaborative ownership structures to ensure long-term viability. By expanding the partner base, Maze Books positions itself to compete with larger distributors by focusing on localized publishing and niche events.

Customers can expect an expanded selection of poetry and fiction as the store increases its publishing output. The addition of new partners should also result in a broader schedule of community literary events.

The takeaway

Expanding ownership groups can be a vital strategy for small businesses looking to balance growth with operational stability. Readers interested in supporting local retail can benefit from the increased event variety that these collaborative partnerships often produce.