Chapters on Chestnut, a bookstore and cafe, will open later this year in Needham, Mass., the Needham Observer reported. Located at 7 Chestnut St., Chapters on Chestnut will sell general-interest titles for all ages and include a substantial children's section spanning roughly 1,000 square feet. Owner Nicole Connolly told the Needham Observer she took over additional space to provide more room for children's, middle grade, and YA titles.
"I feel like [those years] are a time when the kids are getting phones and they can get on screens more, and that's when we see reading starts to fall off," Connolly said.
Connolly, who spent 25 years at Fidelity Investments before deciding to open a bookstore, said having a cafe was also an extremely important part of the project. "The idea of creating a space where people could come and linger and browse and connect was really appealing to me. I felt like Needham needed more places for people to connect and hang out."
Much remains to be done, including construction, renovation, and permitting, but Connolly is hoping to open before the end of the year.