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| The original Talking Animals Books. | |
Talking Animals Books, a new and used bookstore that debuted in 2023 at 103 W. Worth St. in Grapevine, Tex., is opening "a second, bigger, more ambitious location this fall" at 909 S. Main St. in The 925 mixed-use development downtown, CultureMap reported. In addition to books, the 2,800-square-foot space will feature a full-service coffee bar, wine tasting room, and an event space.
"We've grown alongside our readers," said Valerie Walizadeh, co-founder, with Katy Lemieux, of Talking Animals Books. "This new location is more than just a bookstore; it's a place to gather, explore ideas, and now we can enjoy coffee and wine while surrounded by stories."
The coffee bar will serve espresso, teas, and pastries. The wine tasting offering "will continue the legacy left by the previous tenant. The larger space will allow for increased seating for author talks, book clubs, live music, and community gatherings," CultureMap noted.
A successful Kickstarter campaign in 2022 raised $54,000 in less than two months to help launch the original Talking Animals Books, which is again taking that approach and recently launched a $100,000 Kickstarter, with hopes "to open the new space ahead of the busy holiday season. It's an ambitious goal, but one that aligns with the increased demand we see during this time and our desire to offer more to our community when it matters most," the owners said. Thus far, more than $9,000 has been raised.
"We're inviting our community once again to help us write the next chapter. We are growing thanks to them," Walizadeh told CultureMap, adding that they are aiming for a soft opening in October.