Hardcovers Romance Bookstore opened earlier this spring in Mill Creek, Wash., the Seattle Times reported.
Located at 4008 133rd St. S.E., Suite 107, the bookstore first opened its doors on March 26. It carries a wide assortment of romance titles across myriad sub-genres, including sports, romantic comedy, romantasy, monster romance, dark romance, and much more.
Alongside books, Hardcovers sells pillows, candles, drink mixes, and other gifts. There is a loyalty program for customers, and event offerings include book club meetings and author signings. And on Tuesdays, the staff puts together themed snacks and other surprises to go with the day's new releases.
Lindsey Tabor, who co-owns the bookstore with her mother, Cindy Kremkau, told the Seattle Times that she aims to have something for everyone and create as welcoming a space as possible: "We are extremely welcoming of LGBTQ+ and we want to be a safe space for everybody, so we bring in a pretty good selection of books for everyone."
Per the Times, Hardcovers is the first bookstore to open in Mill Creek since a University Book Store location closed in 2019. Tabor noted that she chose a storefront in a new shopping center, in order to help "set the vibe and bring a younger, more modern presence to the area."
Hardcovers has met with a strong response, with Tabor reporting that the inventory was "wiped out" after just the first two days, and in the first two weeks, the store sold 1,400 titles. Tabor hired bookseller Carlie Rawson to be the shop's general manager, and she said that every day, they "have this moment where we just stare at each other in disbelief. We're just blown away by how many people are finding us and giving us such kind, positive feedback and sharing us with their friends. We are just astonished."