Dust & Blush Bookshop, a romance-focused bookstore and mocktail bar and lounge, will open next year in Boyne City, Mich., with the help of a crowdfunding campaign, the News-Review reported.
 |
|
| The future home of Dust & Blush. | |
Owner Rachael Hilliard has found a space at 116 S. Main St. and plans to carry a diverse range of romance titles. Her event plans include author signings, book clubs, watch parties, and community nights.
The Kickstarter, which went live on November 20, has a goal of $50,000 and 25 days left to go. Money raised through the campaign will go toward various opening costs like renovation work, fixtures and lighting, a POS system and online store, opening inventory, and the build-out of the lounge. Backer rewards include reading lists, custom playlists, bookmarks, stickers, and more.
The mocktail lounge will feature book-themed non-alcoholic drinks as well as dirty sodas, which are sodas with special flavors or toppings.
"A lot of people now are choosing not to drink," Hilliard told the News-Review. "I want to create that same feeling in a book club space."
Hilliard, an Air Force veteran, said she's wanted to own a business of her own since she was a child. While in the military she fell in love with romance books, which provided an escape from everyday life as well as a way to connect with friends. Discovering the space at 116 S. Main St. prompted her to take the plunge and open a bookstore.
She plans to open Dust & Blush in the spring.