Love Story Book Co. will host its grand opening celebration, with prizes, raffles, and giveaways, this weekend in Mahan Square Shopping Center at 1350 Mahan Dr., Ste. B2, Tallahassee, Fla. The Tallahassee Democrat reported that owner Sarah Babchuck was inspired to open the store by her lifelong passion for reading and the romance genre.
"I think the world just needs more love, love stories and all of that," she said. "It's a really beautiful thing to kind of put out there and have a space where you just focus on love, happiness and happy endings.... I'm just really hoping a lot of people come. I just want people to have fun at the store and find books and things that they love. I want it to be a fun place for people to come."
While the store has been in the works for the last six to eight months, the vision behind it had been embedded in Babchuck's mind for years: "I've loved reading my whole life. I've always been that person who has a book with them everywhere. I always had my book and was trying to read with every spare second I had, romance especially. Who doesn't love a love story, a happy ending, a little love, a little spice?"
The bookstore is decorated in bright pink shades and hand-painted murals of hearts and rings on the wall. In addition to books, it offers reading-related accessories like bookmarks and pens, as well as candles, stickers, and T-shirts. She also hopes to host book clubs, events, and collaborations with other businesses.
"I think having another space for romance, particularly, is really empowering," Babchuck added. "That was kind of my biggest inspiration, taking something I'm really passionate about and creating a space for it."