If I win the lottery tomorrow, I’ll immediately quit my job and open a bookstore. But not just any bookstore, a bookstore that creates community, fosters innovation and creativity, and most importantly, encourages the love of reading. 

I envision a bookstore in a populated urban area; easily accessible by both foot and vehicle traffic, but primarily situated to allow patrons to stumble in organically, almost as if the bookstore is calling them home. 

It has a small cafe serving locally made pastries with treats baked daily, coffee in reusable mugs, and individual teapots for those of us who prefer to steep instead of brew. A soft aroma of vanilla and cinnamon wafts through the space, wrapping its arms around you in a warm embrace.

There would be ample seating; sofas of leather and ornate upholstered chairs, dotted with antique coffee tables worn with use. Never mind a coaster – each ring left on the surface is a diary entry of those who have come before. I want the environment to welcome you as you enter and encourage you to stay a while to bask in the stories of those who have shared that same space. 

As you wander deeper into the bookstore, you’re greeted with a fireplace – roaring in the winter, quiet in the summer – and books as far as the eye can see. Floor-to-ceiling stacks flush with volumes of all ages and genres. And this wouldn’t just be books for purchasing, but books for swapping and books for lending. I imagine a model that allows for a “pay what you can” approach while offering “take a book, leave a book” for others to swap gently loved tomes. I want a section dedicated to local authors, showcasing their hard work, and aimed at removing the barrier for their creations to interact with their community. For aspiring authors, I would create a publishing program to encourage them to publish their works. For those who may be avid readers, a subscription program would be available for a set fee where you could borrow any number of books on the shelf at your leisure, operating as a sort of library card. 

At the rear, there would be an intimate event space, free for use by local book clubs who need a place to meet. I would host regular events including author talks, writing workshops for aspiring writers, and discussions for all genres of novels. A once-a-month book club would be a staple on the event schedule. I envision hosting a fundraiser event or two to sponsor young authors or local community programs. Or even late-night wine and book pairing nights for networking and sharing notes on recent releases. For those interested in poetry, a reading session would bring awareness to the talent of the area. 

While I’m not a trained librarian, I’d partner with ones in the area to support curating collections that may interest my patrons themed to the time of year. It would encompass topics that are both educational and entertaining. 

This is the dream, and someday I’ll create it’s reality. In the meantime, I will keep reading, writing, and dreaming, while manifesting this future to see what the universe will afford me.