Imagine you owned a bookstore
What would it look like?
I don’t like bookstores. I’m not comfortable in them. I find them noisy and chaotic. So my ideal book space would be more reading room than traditional bookstore.
This is The Family Room at House 330 near me. It has the kind of vibe I would want.
One of the lounge areas on a Viking Ocean cruise ship where we spend time hanging out and reading would work too.
There would be some bookshelves but I’d like more of a concierge service. If there is something that you’d like that isn’t on display, you can request it from a tablet and a person would bring it to you. You would also be able to download ebooks and audiobooks from the stores because not everyone wants physical books. (There would be plenty of charging access for your devices.)
Maybe I’m influenced by always wanting to have the sort of getaway club that I imagine the old gentlemen’s clubs from England to have been. This one will be for reading – not betting on things and conspiring to do some colonialism.
You could also order drinks from your tablet and have them brought to you. It would be a pleasant place to sit and relax and read or listen to books (on your headphones of course.)
I’d have membership options. For a monthly fee you could have a daily or weekly drink, that would bring people in to sit and have a think about new books. They could sign into the ordering tablets and see what books are recommended for them if nothing on the tasteful displays are catching their eye while they wait.
It would be a good place for book clubs or author talks in a separate room. No need to disturb the peace in the front.
My bookstore is very introvert focused. No need to talk to people if you don’t want to. It is soothing and quiet. Just sit, read, drink, and relax.
