Montgomery & Taggert, a "Small Town Romance Bookshop," will host its grand opening on September 21 at 26 Water Street in Chester, Conn. The store has launched a $30,000 Indiegogo campaign to assist with start-up costs, with more than $12,000 raised thus far.
Sarah Borgnis-Tobin, co-owner of the business with Elizabeth Tucker, told Zip06, "We are actually the first romance-themed bookstore in the state of Connecticut. Our shop has an immersive and romantic vibe. Everywhere you look, you'll see something different. It's something I have always felt is a fun genre, and it really has a lot of overlap with other genres, too. There are sci-fi romance novels, fantasy romance, historical romance--you name it. We'll find a way to find a book for everyone no matter what your preference is. And we'll be happy to put in orders for books if we don't have it."
The bookstore's name was inspired by two of the families in Jude Deveraux's novels. "She's someone Elizabeth and I both really enjoy and respect as an author. We thought it was representative of the roots of the romance genre," Borgnis-Tobin said.
The genesis of Montgomery & Taggert occurred almost a decade ago, when Borgnis-Tobin befriended Tucker, who was her co-worker at the Henry Carter Hull Library in Clinton. The two stayed in touch when Tucker left the library to pursue a different career. About six months ago, they began to talk seriously about teaming up together to open a store, Zip06 noted.
"Things moved pretty quickly once we started daydreaming and doing research," Borgnis-Tobin recalled, adding that the partnership between the owners is a major factor in making it happen: "She's so well read and knows so much about the genre and is just such a great person. This is very much a partnership with Elizabeth."
Community interest has also played a critical early role. "I've been really heartened by the recognition we've received from the Chester community and the interest they've shown us," Borgnis-Tobin said.