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| The future home of Fabled Bookshop | |
Alison Frenzel and Kimberly Batson are "working to create a downtown spot to draw other book lovers together" in Waco, Tex. The Tribune-Herald reported they "are planning to open Fabled Bookshop and Café next summer in a spacious old building at 215 S. Fourth St. They envision a space for 20,000 to 30,000 books, along with a coffee bar, a fun children's section and event space that will be open to author readings and children's birthday parties."
As co-owner of Heritage Creamery and Common Grounds, Batson said she has learned the importance of creating a distinctive, welcoming space where customers feel they belong: "One of our big drives is having an aesthetic that's engaging. When you have places that have culture, that have an atmosphere that set them apart, people are drawn to that. When you pair that with books and people who are passionate about books, it's a no-brainer."
"We want to be trusted booksellers," Frenzel noted. "We want this to be a place where someone who doesn't read can come in and say, 'I'm going on vacation. What can I read?' But it will also be a place where avid readers can feel at home. We want to have a place where people can sit and savor their books.... We want to bring back the nostalgia of reading."
She added that "finding the location was the biggest challenge. We wanted foot traffic and also enough parking, and we wanted to be in the heart of the city." Behrens Loft Partners owns the building and has plans to renovate the 7,500-square-foot downstairs area for the bookstore.
Frenzel and Batson met last year through someone who knew they shared a vision of opening a bookstore. "That's been such a great thing," Batson said. "We're both from Waco, and we have so many mutual friends and acquaintances.... As we've done our research in all the different bookshops, we've seen every shop has its own purpose and passion and vision. What's been so surprising to Alison and myself is how our vision is so aligned. We realize this is really rare that we have the same purpose and passion for what we want to bring to Waco."