Twenty Stories Bookstore, which debuted as a bookmobile in Los Angeles, Calif., before relocating to Providence, R.I., earlier this year, has opened a bricks-and-mortar location in the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket, R.I., Rhode Island Monthly reported.
Owners Emory Harkins and Alexa Trembly frequently rotate their inventory, which features a wide-ranging selection of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and literary magazines. Harkins told RIM that they try to focus on "young writers, women and women of color in the literary community."
The store also features a Poetry Bar on the back wall, where customers can listen to poetry recordings by authors featured in the store. "Listening to poetry read by the author makes it more accessible," Trembly remarked.
Trembly and Harkins plan to host drawing nights, readings and signings with local authors, writing workshops and open mic nights. Twenty Stories is already host to a monthly book club focused on contemporary fiction.
"We truly want this space to be one where you can pick something up that you won't be able to find anywhere else and we want to connect and have conversations with our customers," said Harkins. "We like to ask them what they like to read and help them find that."
And once spring rolls around, they fully intend to continue their adventures in the bookmobile, stopping at coffee and doughnut shops, museums, farmers markets, schools and more.