A new paper in Richmond reads like a love letter to the city
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Owner Brian Baynes with his new community newspaper called "Short Stop." Photo: Sabrina Moreno/Axios
Brian Baynes spent the past few months handing out flyers to anyone who walked into his Church Hill book shop.
- The ask was simple: Want to be in a newspaper?
Why it matters: The responses he collected turned into Short Stop, a free, eight-page print publication shaped by Richmonders' drawings, stories and poetry.
How it happened: Baynes, who turned an abandoned fish market into Brian's Books last year, has always been drawn to people's quiet obsessions — the things that might go unnoticed if no one asks.
- Except Baynes usually asks.
- That's led him to jot down what customers tell him, from their movie recommendations to their favorite historical rabbit holes.
Zoom in: For months, he encouraged customers to submit anything. A really good tweet. A perfected recipe. Random thoughts.
- He put 2,000 copies together once he had enough submissions, named it Short Stop — combining his love of baseball and the quick interactions in his shop — and released the first edition last week.
The result: A print newspaper that reads like a love letter to the city and includes:
- A piece about a man who nearly lost his ice cream shop until Richmonders saved it.
- Postcard memories of racing at Virginia International Raceway in the '90s and an obituary to the Diamond.
- A recipe for giant beans inspired by Stella's hilopites and an ode to the Science Museum government plane the writer wishes was a UFO.
What they're saying: "A lot of people came into my store after I released it and were like 'This is the first time I've ever been published,'" Baynes says. "That's awesome."
Fun fact: Baynes, a Church Hill resident since 2014, isn't new to the publishing world or bringing people together.
- He's the author of Bubbles, a comics and manga zine featuring local and global artists, and runs Bubbles Con, a free annual comics event in Richmond.
- This year's event on May 30 includes Bob Gorman from GWAR.
What's next: Anyone can grab a copy if they swing by the store. While there's no set schedule for the next issue, submissions are already open.
- Baynes says he'll put another out "whenever it fills up," or in other words, when enough Richmonders walk in with something to share.