A peek at the layout
It's beginning to look a lot like a book store
Hi, everyone!
It has been a busy few months of planning, and we held holiday pop-ups as part of Shop Small Saturday and the Frosty Affair Holiday Market. Thank you to everyone who came out to say hello and support us! Items from our holiday collection are now available to order online. If you place an order for pick-up, we’ll coordinate a time for you to stop by the store this weekend.
And now, with our shelves (finally!) arriving, this seems like a perfect time to provide a peek into Dandelion Bookshop.
We have about 1,200 square feet of space in our store. One of the reasons we chose this location is that a previous tenant installed partition walls throughout, which we are using to create sections for each genre. To maximize use of the space, we custom-ordered over 100 linear feet of wood shelving to fit along these partitions. And these are no ordinary shelves! The lower shelves angle upwards and rear bumpers push the books toward the edge of the shelf. You’ll find it very easy to browse the titles as you explore the shop. Also, the open area in the front can be adjusted to accommodate visiting authors and guest speakers.
In the image above, the large glass window is our storefront on Oak Park Avenue. As you walk in, you’ll be greeted by a friendly staff member on the left, where we’ll have our checkout area. You’ll also find Staff Recommendations and Community Picks in this space. (On that note, you can now recommend books to us and your neighbors using our website.)
Along the largest wall, we will have our Adult Fiction and Nonfiction titles. Although not pictured, this front area will also have tables displaying new releases and seasonal selections. In the room behind the checkout, you will find Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Romance.
The layout may evolve over time. We plan to adjust the section sizes and placement based on community feedback. (The display stands and chairs shown in the middle of the floor were included for scale comparison during the design process.)
Through the doorway, in the middle of the store, you’ll find an area dedicated to younger readers. On one side, we’ll have children’s and middle grade books. On the other, you’ll find young adult titles. We’re especially excited about these sections – nurturing a love of reading in kids is a central part of our mission, and these books hold a special place in Jamie’s heart. In both sections, you’ll discover the latest releases alongside classic favorites.
Finally, in the back, we will carve out a community space, with a table and seating for book clubs, writing groups, and game nights. Initially, this space will be used for unpacking all those boxes of books, but look for an announcement in the future welcoming you to the community space when it’s ready.
And, that’s the news for today. We hope this glimpse behind the scenes has you as excited as we are! Stay tuned for more updates. We can’t wait to see you in the store!