Philosophers & Fools bookstore bar has opened at 50 Bogard St. in Charleston, S.C. Charleston City Paper reported that co-owners Jenny Ferrara and Michael Bourke "knew they wanted to open a bookstore bar--they just needed the right neighborhood and community for it.... A shared love of books and 'a nice glass of wine' led to Philosophers & Fools, a bookstore that will serve wine, beer and snacks, and it's now open."
 |
|
| Jenny Ferrara and Michael Bourke | |
"Whenever we travel, we look up the local bookstores and go to as many as we can," said Ferrara. "We've seen the cafe concept with some kind of wine or bar element and we know that it works in other places. We thought, 'Wouldn't that be great in Charleston? Why don't we create that?' "
The project was funded in part by a successful Kickstarter campaign at the end of 2023, which Ferrara said helped "alleviate some of the startup costs.... We are painting ourselves and building all the bookshelves ourselves and we're doing all the sourcing of decor and furnishings." They hired a contractor to work on electrical and plumbing and to build out the store's bar.
The 1,400-square-foot space will have a small seating area in addition to the bar, where Ferrara envisions guests cozying up with a drink and a book, or perhaps serving as a space for small book clubs to meet. She expects the store to start with an inventory of about 5,000 titles.
"Hopefully there's something for everyone," she said, adding that sourcing books for the store has been the couple's favorite part of the process. "Our approach is that we want anyone who walks in to be able to find something that interests them. We have a wide variety in all genres, from fiction to nonfiction to kids to young adult."
Ferrara and Bourke have partnered with Advintage Distributing to curate a list of wine and beer offerings. The store will have NA drinks and coffee available too, as well as snack foods like popcorn, chips and sandwiches.
"As we've met with neighbors, the response we've gotten has been enthusiastic," said Ferrara. "It's really great to receive that support and excitement."