When the news broke that not one, but two bookstores would be coming to Needham, the collective cheers of local bibliophiles pealed through town. This Saturday, The Book Shop of Needham opens to the public.
Replacing the former furniture store, Vintage Finds, at 283 Chestnut St., the shop is bright and welcoming, with little nooks for shoppers to tuck into as they search for their next read. Cozy chairs are spread among the stacks, and a seating area up front invites shoppers to sit, read and relax. It feels like an oasis for anyone wishing to escape the chaos and frenetic pace of life and delve into someone else’s story.
Owner Hayley Stokes, who has travelled back and forth on Chestnut Street almost daily for the past four years, said this is all by design. “I always loved this building, so when it came up for lease this summer I was like, I have to go see it. As soon as I walked in I saw so much potential in this space.” She was especially drawn to the alcoves and the natural light. Even the bathroom is bright with whimsical wallpaper that draws a smile.
“With a bookstore you either go very dark, old-school like someone’s house library, or have to be light and airy like this.”
The neatly organized, easy-to-navigate shelves represent most genres, replete with best sellers, new releases, classics and staff picks — and a big romance section, “because who doesn’t love a good romance book?”
“It was really hard for me not to dabble in a little bit of everything because I love a little bit of everything,” said Stokes.
Food lovers and photo fans have their own space with cookbooks and coffee table tomes. And beyond that is Stokes’ favorite spot: the children’s section. Scattered with small poufs and window seats, it is also designed for readers to stay a while. Young customers can choose from board books, chapter books, graphic novels, middle school readers — to name a few. “My kids, we read so many children’s books, so this is a big passion for me back here.” An education major turned large-scale events project manager for an advertising company, Stokes said she originally wanted to write children’s books herself. “There are so many young families in Needham, that I just needed to bring this to them.”
Sprinkled among the books are a handful of carefully curated gifts, but Stokes is quick to note that it’s not meant to be a gift shop. “We are exclusively a bookstore with gifts, not a gift store with books,” she said. “I love going into a bookstore and even if it’s a get-well gift, I’ll buy them a book and tea and a mug, or a blanket. They go well together, certain gifts and books. So it’s a lot of bookish gifts.”
Stokes hand-picked nearly every item in the store herself, which is evident as she winds her way around the bookcases describing the different selections and making recommendations like a sommelier based on your preferences or desire to try something new.
Stokes has already scheduled several author visits and book signings, and has plans for several other events and community collaborations. Recently the Friends of the Needham Library met at the store and members suggested doing something with Stokes at the Library as well. She hopes to put together food tastings at some point based on items from cookbooks in the store with her husband, Dan, a chef and the store’s co-owner, and definitely intends to start a book group. She is also working with Newman Elementary School to bring in children’s authors during their month of literacy in March. Top of her wish list is to host Chris Van Dusen, author of the Mr. Magee and “If I Built a …” books. But for the moment, Stokes said she plans to see how things go, listen to what people want, take suggestions and go from there.
Opening the Book Shop, Stokes knows she is living out many people’s dream. “I think when you’re dreaming about it, I pictured it that I’m the only one there, and when no one’s there you’re sitting at the counter reading a book, and then as soon as someone comes in you put your book down and you’re like, ‘How can I help you?’” she said. In reality, the work is much more physical and comes with many more papercuts than she expected. She is nevertheless excited to see her long-held vision come to life to have a place she gets to go to every day and be surrounded by books and people she loves.
“People are so thankful and happy this is here, so I hope we’re successful enough to stay here,” she said. “I hope this is what people are looking for, and as we open we’ll adapt and listen to what people tell us.”
The Book Shop of Needham opens Feb. 7 at 10 a.m.
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