Jenny Shima, owner of the Literary in Champaign, Ill., has purchased a building that will be used for reading retreats and other events in partnership with the bookstore, the News-Gazette reported.
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom house, built in 1898, is located on Springfield Ave., not far from the Literary's home in downtown Champaign. Once renovations and redecoration are complete, which will include the creation of a library, building reading nooks in the attic, painting, and other design work, Shima intends to host overnight reading retreats and other events that the Literary cannot accommodate in its current space.
"We've been very lucky at the Literary with the community we've been able to be a part of," Shima told the News-Gazette. She opened the bookstore and bar in 2021 and added a cafe in 2023. "And we just want to do more, create more for our community and new ways to gather, to engage in our reading."
People are increasingly looking for ways to slow down and connect, Shima noted, and reading retreats are becoming a popular option. Emphasizing that nothing has been set in stone, Shima said a potential retreat might begin on a Friday evening, include breakfast and activities on Saturday, and end with a brunch at the Literary on Sunday morning, with the Literary handling food and beverage service throughout the weekend.
Adding that most reading retreats are "happening for thousands and thousands of dollars per person," Shima said hers will be "a fraction of that cost per person. We want this to be more accessible and more available to people."
At the same time, people have often inquired about doing private events at the Literary, but the bookstore has had difficulty accommodating them. Shima hopes to rent the home for things like small weddings, private book clubs, baby showers, and more.
Shima is currently working on a name for the retreat and event space and hopes to have it ready in the fall.