Monarch Books & Gifts is moving to a new location in Overland Park, Kan., and will host a grand reopening celebration the weekend of October 3.
Monarch's new home, at 7733 W. 151st St., is about 1,000 square feet larger than its previous store. The additional space will allow owner Christin Young and her team to expand the coffee bar, add more seating, and host larger events. Young also noted that the romance and romantasy genres will now have an entire room "all to themselves."
Young explained that she had "always loved" the space at 7733 W. 151st St., but thought of it as more of a "wouldn't it be nice" hypothetical. However, a big box store opened less than a mile from Monarch a few weeks ago, and Young and her team had to "seriously consider what that means for our future--was this going to be it, or do we pivot and adapt?" At the same time, Young learned that the space she had long admired would be available.
"After much reflecting on how much this store means to us and our community, we contacted the landlord and the rest is history," Young said. "We're excited for this next chapter!"