The Book Nest opened a physical storefront in April at 33627 Redmond-Fall City Rd. SE in Fall City, Wash., the Snoqualmie Valley Record reported. Owner Andrea Amstutz started her business in 2023 as a pop-up shop at local community events in the Snoqualmie Valley and surrounding areas before launching a mobile bookstore in the summer of 2024. She still plans on taking the bus to Valley events, but now readers have another option.
"When I first started out thinking about doing it, it felt very much unrealistic," she said. "Over time, we've been able to slowly inch our way into what it feels like to be a business owner. Because I never would have imagined this was something that I would have wanted and dreamed of doing."
The Book Nest is "small--but mighty--and Amstutz said she tries to stock a little bit of everything," the Valley Record wrote. "She mostly stocks fiction, from mystery to romance to fantasy. She also has a children's book section and sells young adult novels. It's also important, Amstutz said, to keep local authors in stock."
She wants to cater to all genres, as well as all types of readers, noting: "Oftentimes people come in who maybe haven't read in a while, and they don't necessarily identify themselves as someone who reads. I've always felt like anybody can read. It's really about finding what draws your interest. And I think a lot of people just don't know yet, so that's probably what I enjoy most about having my bookstore."
Though she loves books, Amstutz said one of her favorite thing about owning the Book Nest is the connections she is making with her community: "It's not just about selling the books, but creating places and spaces for people to go and enjoy their life. I get to meet so many really neat folks that come in, and if I'm not busy, I'm able to have a chat with them and learn stories about people in the community.... You learn history about your community right around you that you wouldn't have otherwise known."