Sales are skyrocketing at DreamHaven books after its owner was photographed protesting.

Greg Ketter of DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis never intended to be a face of the movement. But after he was photographed walking through a cloud of tear gas to a protest following Alex Pretti’s murder, he and his store became a sudden symbol of an ongoing struggle: neighbors vs. the ghouls of ICE.

Greg Ketter walking through tear gas. Photo by Theia Chattelle.

Ketter told CBS News that DreamHaven “has seen a surge of online orders and messages of support” since the photo was taken, and a subsequent video interview went viral. (Ketter to public: “I’m 70 years old and I’m fucking angry.”)

In a frank and furious Facebook statement, the proprietor echoed the “fury and sadness” that first carried him into the street, despite agents armed and chemical.

Readers around the country were quick to respond to the store owner’s moral clarity. So much so that the DreamHaven website has been temporarily overwhelmed with orders. Though grateful for all the attention, Ketter is insisting that the spotlight stay on the community.

Donations made to the store through its GoFundMe page—which was initially created to replace an exterior damaged during the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020—”will be redirected to local food shelves.”

As for what’s next? Ketter says he plans to keep doing what he’s always done: “running his store and serving customers.”

DreamHaven is an indie specializing in sci-fi, fantasy, comic, and horror books. Ketter reminds supporters to be patient as the store works to fulfill an unprecedented spike in online orders.

Note: this also goes for Moon Palace, and every one of our favorite Minneapol-indies.

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