Hidden Worlds bookstore opened in Hillsboro’s Orenco Station after more than a year of literary pop-ups. Hundreds attended, with nearly 100 people lined up before the doors opened. The fantasy-focused shop combines books with gathering space, and its path from monthly reading events to a permanent storefront helps explain the opening-day turnout.
Key Takeaways
- Hidden Worlds held its grand opening in Hillsboro’s Orenco Station.
- Hundreds of readers attended, with nearly 100 people waiting before the doors opened.
- Owner Hayley Klarich developed the bookstore after more than a year of literary pop-up events.
- The store includes a Gothic Library for shopping and a separate Reading Room for book clubs, Dungeons & Dragons sessions and other gatherings.
- Its collection spans young adult, high fantasy, paranormal romance, romantasy and historical fantasy.
Hundreds Turn Out for the Hidden Worlds Bookstore Opening
Hidden Worlds bookstore drew hundreds of readers to Hillsboro’s Orenco Station for its Sept. 19 grand opening, marking the transition of owner Hayley Klarich’s fantasy-focused project from pop-up events to a permanent storefront.
Nearly 100 people were already waiting before the doors opened, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting, which covered the opening on site.
“The readers show up, they show out, they’re really supportive,” Klarich told OPB.
The turnout gave the new bookstore an immediate audience while extending a community Klarich had already been developing through literary events in the area.
Hidden Worlds enters Hillsboro during a year that has brought other heavily attended business openings to the city. In June, crowds also gathered for a Hillsboro restaurant opening at Tanasbourne Town Center.
For Hidden Worlds, however, the Sept. 19 opening was not the beginning of its relationship with readers. The permanent shop followed more than a year of events built around reading and fantasy interests.
Pop-Up Events Built an Audience Before the Storefront
Before Hidden Worlds had a permanent location, Klarich organized recurring literary gatherings that allowed readers to meet through shared interests.
According to Klarich, the first silent book club was held at Mazama Brewing in July 2025. Participants gathered to read quietly rather than follow the discussion-centered format of a traditional book club.
The event became recurring, with typical attendance ranging from 50 to 75 readers. Hidden Worlds continued organizing pop-ups for more than a year before establishing its Orenco Station storefront.
That history gives the bookstore a different starting point from a business opening without an existing events program. Its first customers included readers who had already encountered Hidden Worlds through temporary gatherings.
The permanent location now gives those activities a fixed setting while allowing the business to operate as a specialty bookstore.
Fantasy Titles Define the Store’s Retail Focus
Hidden Worlds centers its inventory on fantasy and related genres rather than maintaining the broader selection of a general-interest bookstore.
The shelves include young adult fiction, high fantasy, paranormal romance, romantasy and historical fantasy. OPB also reported that the store carries works by authors including Lindsay Straube, Orin Steele, Jenn Neal and Aiden Thomas.
The genre focus reflects Klarich’s broader concept for Hidden Worlds as a place designed around fantasy reading rather than bookselling alone.
Klarich described the idea to OPB as “a spot where you can really come in and be a part of the story.”
That approach is also reflected in the physical organization of the bookstore, where its retail and gathering functions occupy separate rooms.
The Gothic Library and Reading Room Serve Different Roles
Hidden Worlds is divided into two main spaces called the Gothic Library and the Reading Room.
The Gothic Library serves as the primary shopping area, where customers can browse the store’s fantasy-focused collection.
The Reading Room is intended for gatherings, including book clubs, Dungeons & Dragons sessions and other activities connected to reading and fantasy interests.
Separating the two functions gives the store room to continue the events that preceded its permanent opening while maintaining a distinct retail area for customers browsing books.
Photo Credit: Unsplash.com
The model also places Hidden Worlds within a broader regional mix of bookstores, galleries and cultural organizations offering shared experiences alongside their primary functions. Portland’s first citywide Arts Week, for example, included bookstores among the venues participating in free community arts events earlier in 2026.
For Hidden Worlds, the Reading Room provides a permanent setting for the type of group activity that previously depended on outside venues.
Orenco Station Becomes a Permanent Base for Hidden Worlds
The opening establishes Hidden Worlds in the Orenco Station neighborhood where Klarich had already been organizing and participating in community activities.
Public business records also identify Hidden Worlds Bookstore LLC as a Hillsboro business associated with Klarich. The company appeared in City of Hillsboro new-business records in 2025, before the permanent bookstore opened.
The Sept. 19 launch therefore represents the latest stage in a project that developed through temporary events before moving into a dedicated retail and gathering space.
Instead of replacing the bookstore’s earlier event model, the storefront gives those activities a permanent home. Readers can now browse fantasy titles in the Gothic Library while book clubs and other groups use the Reading Room.
That combination of specialty retail and organized gathering space remains central to the Hidden Worlds bookstore concept as it begins operating from its permanent Hillsboro location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Hidden Worlds bookstore located?
Hidden Worlds is located in the Orenco Station neighborhood of Hillsboro, Oregon. The fantasy-focused bookstore opened its permanent location there after more than a year of literary pop-up events.
When did Hidden Worlds bookstore open in Hillsboro?
Hidden Worlds held its grand opening on Sept. 19, 2026. Nearly 100 people were waiting before the doors opened, and hundreds of readers attended during the opening.
Who owns Hidden Worlds bookstore?
Hayley Klarich owns Hidden Worlds. Before establishing the permanent bookstore, Klarich organized literary pop-ups and a recurring silent book club in the Hillsboro area.
What books does Hidden Worlds carry?
Hidden Worlds focuses on fantasy and related genres, including young adult, high fantasy, paranormal romance, romantasy and historical fantasy. The store also carries works by a number of individual authors highlighted in reporting about its opening.
Does Hidden Worlds host book clubs and Dungeons & Dragons sessions?
Yes. The Reading Room at Hidden Worlds is intended for book clubs, Dungeons & Dragons sessions and other literary gatherings, continuing the events-based element of the business that began before the permanent storefront opened.
