Atuagkat Bookstore
Atuagkat Bookstore was Greenland's oldest and only bookstore, serving readers in Nuuk from 1966 until its closure in January 2025.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Atuagkat Bookstore was a Greenlandic bookseller based in Nuuk and, for much of its existence, the territory's only dedicated bookstore. Its name, Atuagkat, is Greenlandic for "books." The store was founded on 5 May 1966 by Det Grønlandske Forlag, Greenland's publishing house, as a commercial outlet whose profits were intended to help support the publisher's book-production activities. This origin gave the business a role broader than ordinary retail: it was both a point of sale for books and an important channel for Greenlandic publishing and cultural material. The shop carried fiction, biographies and memoirs, children's books, English-language literature for young readers, games, posters and maps of Greenland. Its most distinctive collection was its Greenlandica, including an extensive antiquarian selection of Greenlandic publications. The store was described as having the world's largest bookstore-based Greenlandica collection, making it a significant resource for readers, collectors and people interested in Greenlandic history, language and culture. The business's early bookselling operation was led first by Bent Elkjær Danielsen, who held the position from 1966 until his resignation in 1968. Poul Bay then became the leading bookseller and remained in the role until 1983. In 1985, Inger Hauge became leading bookseller, and in 1986 she took over the bookstore from the publisher. This transaction made Atuagkat Boghandel the first Home Rule-owned company to pass into private ownership. Hauge operated it with her husband, Steen Amandus, whose business was Kontorteknik. The two operations were combined for a period under the name Atuagkat & Kontorteknik. Atuagkat marked its 25th anniversary in 1991 with an anniversary newspaper and a performance by Dario Campeotto. Hauge also established Forlaget Atuagkat in 1994, creating a close relationship between the retail business and independent publishing. She operated the publishing house until 2017, when she stopped accepting new titles because of her advanced age. The final book published by Forlaget Atuagkat was Hans-Erik Rasmussen's The Porous Poet and the Snow Sparrow. The retail and office businesses were separated in 1999. The office division remained at the existing premises as Kontorhuset, while the bookstore moved into a small blue building on Imaneq, a location that became strongly associated with the Atuagkat name. In 2005, Claus and Dorthe Jordening acquired an interest and subsequently took over operation of the bookstore, while Hauge retained Forlaget Atuagkat. The Jordenings continued to run the shop through a series of relocations caused partly by redevelopment in central Nuuk. In 2010, the store left the blue house because of Greenland Government plans for a shopping centre and government offices. It temporarily operated from the former Kamik building. After the Nuuk Center was completed, the bookstore moved there in 2012, closing in May and reopening in July as Atuagkat Bog & Idé. In 2015, it left the Nuuk Center, ended its association with the Bog & Idé chain and restored the Atuagkat Bookstore identity at Aqqusinersuaq 4. When the Jordenings decided to move to Denmark, they attempted for approximately six months to sell the business but were unsuccessful. Atuagkat Bookstore consequently closed on 15 January 2025. Its closure ended nearly six decades of continuous bookselling and removed Greenland's only bookstore as described in the reference material. The store remains notable for its longevity, its Greenlandica holdings and its connection to Greenlandic publishing.
History
Atuagkat Bookstore was established in Nuuk on 5 May 1966 by Det Grønlandske Forlag. The publisher created the store so that book-trade profits could help finance its publishing activities. Bent Elkjær Danielsen served as the first leading bookseller until 1968, followed by Poul Bay, who held the position until 1983. In 1985, Inger Hauge became leading bookseller, and in 1986 she acquired the bookstore from the publisher. The transaction made Atuagkat Boghandel the first Home Rule-owned company to move into private hands. Hauge ran the business with her husband, Steen Amandus, whose office-equipment company Kontorteknik was combined with the bookstore for a period. The combined operation traded as Atuagkat & Kontorteknik until the businesses were separated in 1999. The office business remained at the former address under the name Kontorhuset, while the bookstore moved into a small blue building on Imaneq. That building became one of the locations most closely identified with the store. Hauge founded Forlaget Atuagkat in 1994 and operated the publishing house separately, continuing to accept new manuscripts until 2017. Its final stated publication was Hans-Erik Rasmussen's The Porous Poet and the Snow Sparrow. Atuagkat celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1991 with a commemorative newspaper and a performance by Dario Campeotto. As a retailer, it developed a broad stock of general books, including fiction, biographies, memoirs, children's literature and English-language books for young people. It also sold games, posters and maps of Greenland. Its defining specialist asset was its Greenlandica collection, including extensive antiquarian Greenlandic publications. In 2005, Claus and Dorthe Jordening joined the business and then took over its operation, producing a generational transition. Inger Hauge continued to own and operate Forlaget Atuagkat. The bookstore remained in the blue house until 2010, when redevelopment plans involving a shopping centre and Greenland Government offices required a move to the former Kamik building. In 2012, after the Nuuk Center became available, the store relocated there, closing in May and reopening in July as Atuagkat Bog & Idé. The business left Nuuk Center in 2015, withdrew from the Bog & Idé chain and returned to the Atuagkat Bookstore name at Aqqusinersuaq 4. When the Jordenings later decided to relocate to Denmark, they tried for six months to sell the bookstore. The attempt did not succeed, and the shop closed on 15 January 2025. It had operated for almost 59 years and was described as Greenland's oldest and only bookstore.
- 2025
Closure
[1]Atuagkat Bookstore closes on 15 January after an unsuccessful attempt to sell the business.
- 2015
Returns to the Atuagkat identity
[1]The bookstore leaves Nuuk Center, exits Bog & Idé and reopens under the Atuagkat Bookstore name at Aqqusinersuaq 4.
- 2012
Reopens in Nuuk Center
[1]The store relocates to Nuuk Center and reopens as Atuagkat Bog & Idé.
- 2010
Relocation from the blue house
[1]Redevelopment plans lead Atuagkat to leave its Imaneq premises and temporarily move into the former Kamik building.
- 2005
Claus and Dorthe Jordening take over operations
[1]The Jordenings' involvement creates a generational change in the bookstore's management, while Hauge retains the publishing house.
- 1999
Bookstore and office businesses are separated
[1]Atuagkat and Kontorteknik are divided, and the bookstore moves into the small blue building on Imaneq.
- 1994
Forlaget Atuagkat is founded
[1]Inger Hauge establishes the associated publishing house Forlaget Atuagkat.
- 1991
25th-anniversary celebration
[1]The store marks its 25th anniversary with an anniversary newspaper and a performance by Dario Campeotto.
- 1986
The bookstore enters private ownership
[1]Inger Hauge takes over the bookstore from the publisher, making it the first Home Rule-owned company to pass into private hands.
- 1968
Poul Bay becomes leading bookseller
[1]Poul Bay succeeds Bent Elkjær Danielsen and remains in the leading bookseller role until 1983.
Products and positioning
A locally rooted Nuuk bookstore combining general book retail with an unusually strong Greenlandic and Greenlandica collection. Its cultural role came from connecting everyday readers with Greenlandic publications, maps, literature and historical material.
Book retail · 1966
General books
The store stocked fiction, biographies, memoirs and other general reading for Greenlandic customers. Its assortment positioned it as a broad local bookseller rather than a specialist outlet limited to one genre.
Books · 1966
Children's and young readers' literature
Atuagkat carried children's books and English-language literature for young people, extending its audience beyond adult readers and supporting family and educational reading needs.
Greenlandic publications · 1966
Greenlandica collection
The store's signature offering was its extensive Greenlandica collection, including an antiquarian selection of Greenlandic publications. This material gave Atuagkat particular importance to collectors and readers researching Greenlandic culture, history and literature.
Cultural and educational retail · 1966
Maps, posters and games
Alongside books, the shop sold games, posters and maps of Greenland, providing non-book cultural, educational and leisure goods for local customers and visitors.
Marketing campaigns
- 199125th-anniversary celebration
Greenland
Atuagkat commemorated its 25th year with an anniversary newspaper and a live performance by Dario Campeotto.
Outcome. The event marked the bookstore's continuing cultural presence in Nuuk.
Brand decisions
2025
Closure after unsuccessful sale processOtherBackground
The Jordenings planned to move to Denmark and spent approximately six months attempting to sell the bookstore.
Action taken
After no buyer was found, the bookstore closed on 15 January 2025.
Aftermath
The closure ended the operation of Greenland's oldest and only bookstore as described in the source.
2015
Exit from Bog & IdéStrategyBackground
After operating in Nuuk Center as Atuagkat Bog & Idé, the business changed its retail format and location.
Action taken
The store left the chain, moved to Aqqusinersuaq 4 and restored the Atuagkat Bookstore identity.
Aftermath
The business operated independently under the familiar name until its closure in 2025.
2012
Move into Nuuk Center and adoption of Bog & Idé brandingStrategyBackground
Redevelopment had forced the bookstore to leave its earlier central premises.
Action taken
Atuagkat moved into Nuuk Center and reopened as Atuagkat Bog & Idé.
Aftermath
The chain affiliation lasted until the store left Nuuk Center and returned to the Atuagkat Bookstore name in 2015.
1999
Separation of Atuagkat and KontorteknikStrategyBackground
The bookstore had operated alongside Steen Amandus's Kontorteknik under a combined business.
Action taken
The book and office divisions were separated, with the bookstore moving to the blue house on Imaneq.
Aftermath
The Imaneq location became a lasting part of the store's public identity.
1986
Transfer from publisher ownership to private ownershipStrategyBackground
The bookstore had been founded by Det Grønlandske Forlag as a retail operation supporting publishing.
Action taken
Inger Hauge took over the business from the publisher.
Aftermath
Atuagkat became the first Home Rule-owned company described in the source to pass into private hands.
Recent events
- 2025
Atuagkat Bookstore closes after nearly six decades[1]
Other
The Nuuk bookstore closed on 15 January 2025 after its operators were unable to find a buyer while preparing to move to Denmark.
- 2015
Atuagkat leaves the Bog & Idé chain[1]
Other
The store moved out of Nuuk Center, ended its participation in the Bog & Idé chain and resumed the Atuagkat Bookstore name at Aqqusinersuaq 4.
- 2012
Atuagkat reopens in Nuuk Center as Atuagkat Bog & Idé[1]
Other
Following a temporary relocation, the bookstore reopened in Nuuk Center under the Atuagkat Bog & Idé name.
- 2005
Ownership passes to a new generation[1]
Leadership change
Claus and Dorthe Jordening acquired an interest and took over operation of the bookstore, while Inger Hauge retained the associated publishing house.
Sources1 sources
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