Half Full Bookstore opened last month in Portsmouth, Va., the Virginian-Pilot reported.
Located at 507 F Washington St., Half Full carries general-interest titles for all ages with an emphasis on local authors and independent publishers. Along with books, there are greeting cards, puzzles, candles, and gifts, and the business is also a tea bar, serving a selection of loose-leaf tea.
Owner Tiana Skinner, a former librarian, told the Virginian-Pilot it was always a dream of hers to own her own business. She explained: "My aha moment was when my dreams of the bookstore started becoming more like instructions rather than visions. I thought I had to try because I couldn't stop talking or dreaming about my own bookstore."
The store's event plans include book clubs, open mic nights, author signings, storytime sessions, and community workshops. There is a dedicated children's area, and space for customers to sit, read, and work.
"My favorite part of the store is the community engagement," Skinner added. "It's a business with a heart and soul. It's what the kids call a 'vibe' on a sunny corner of High Street and Washington Street in Olde Towne Portsmouth. People walk in and instantly smile."