Beacon Hill's gorgeous new bookshop
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Photo: Sarah Winchester courtesy of Beacon HIll Books and Cafe
Beacon Hill now has a bookstore to call its own that may prove to be a new favorite haunt for readers across Boston.
What's happening: Beacon Hill Books and Cafe opened this weekend after a lengthy renovation of the brownstone and restaurant space at 71 Charles St.
- Three floors are dedicated to a curated selection of new books, including extensive collections focusing on children's and young adult literature.
Why it matters: Beacon Hill, one of the country's most historic literary neighborhoods, hasn't had a bookstore to call its own in over a quarter-century.
- Facing stiff competition from online sellers, founder Melissa Fetter set out to build an inviting neighborhood bookstore customers will want to return to.
Details: A cafe serving breakfast, lunch and a lighter evening menu is open along with the bookstore.
- Full tea service, scones and all, will be available in the afternoons.
- Beer and wine is also available.
- The cafe offers a back patio nestled among Beacon Hill's historic homes.
What they're saying: "I had a vision in my mind of what the bookstore would be," Fetter told Axios last week. "It would be in a townhouse where you could snake through it and it would be very residential and it would be on Charles Street."
- Fetter bought the building in September 2019 and began renovations during the pandemic in 2020.
Of note: The store even has its own mascot: Paige the squirrel, who staff will tell you, lives among the stacks of books.
- Paige has a "den" visitors can see when they visit the store.
- A diorama on display by author and illustrator Brian Lies makes for a very cozy squirrel home.
What's next: The store is hosting one of its first events Oct. 16 at 3pm. with a book launch for "Paige of Beacon Hill," a children's book about the store's live-in mascot.
- Author Sarah Brannen will read from the new book.