The Novel Sip, a bookstore, wine bar, and cafe, will open in New Albany, Ohio, next spring, Columbus Monthly reported.
Owner Shayla Cole hopes to create a space where people come in for a book, "but stay for coffee or a glass of wine and leave feeling just a little bit more connected than when they arrived." Her event plans include author readings, book clubs, workshops, and silent reading nights, and she intends to source coffee and baked goods from local suppliers.
Cole decided to open a bookstore of her own after starting an online community during the Covid-19 pandemic called Brown Folks Book Circle, which reached nearly 4,000 followers. At the same time, she was inspired by her favorite bookstores and cafes in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she used to live.
"Watching complete strangers connect over books showed me just how powerful those shared experiences can be," Cole said of Brown Folks Book Circle. "And the Novel Sip really feels like the natural next chapter for that."
Cole is aiming for a March 2027 opening, with more details to be announced.