The Story Garden children's bookstore will have a soft opening on Saturday, March 1 at 832 14th St. North in Historic Uptown St. Petersburg, Fla. Founder and owner Megan Kotsko told St. Pete Rising that the shop will carry more than 1,500 titles, and a major focus will be events, including story times, book clubs for kids, art classes, and more. There will also be a program for toddlers called Play Me a Story, featuring a read-aloud followed by intentional play experiences tailored to extend the story's content.
"I want to be driven by our mission, which is really to have every child be able to come into our store and find a book that reflects their life, be it their culture, their religion, their ethnicity, their passions, and their interests," she said. "This was always a dream of mine. After watching You've Got Mail years ago, I fell in love with the dream of one day running a children's bookstore like The Shop Around the Corner--one that puts children's interests and their innate gravitation toward immersing themselves into the world of story first; a store that was established for and fueled by the love of books for the youngest of readers."
The Story Garden offers cozy reading nooks and benches throughout the shop, which will also sell games, toys, cards, and reading accessories. There is also an outdoor patio, St. Pete Rising noted.
Kotsko added that she is glad she and her husband, Jason Kotsko, were able to restore the old building, which had been empty for years before the bookstore's arrival: "Since I've lived on 14th Street, it's been pretty much vacant. You never saw anybody coming and going, but there was old stuff in it."
In a recent Instagram post, she noted: "We’re thrilled to invite you to our soft opening, where you can browse our shelves, discover new stories, and find the perfect books for your little readers. This is just the beginning--our Grand Opening Week is happening later this March, and we have some exciting surprises, special events, and fun activities in store! Stay tuned for more details!"