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Following in the footsteps of many bookstores across the country, Bookends & Beginnings opened a minibar in the store’s basement last June stocked with cocktail jugs, wine and cookies.
According to owner Nina Barrett, when the store moved from Bookman’s Alley to Orrington Avenue, she saw an opportunity to bring a new experience to customers. The store’s previous location had no plumbing, making it unable to operate any type of food service.
“This is where I re-conceptualized Bookends & Beginnings as a literary hospitality business,” she says. “So it’s not just about the objects, the books, the products on the shelf and coming in and buying a book, it’s about the whole social experience.”
In March, the store hosted author Özge Samancı and hosted a literary trivia night, both of which brought a lot of business to the minibar, Barrett said. She said the store will be hosting city staff and Ald in the near future. Clare Kelly (first) attends the Envision Evanston 2045 community meeting.
Wren Romero, a bookseller at Bookends who organizes literary trivia nights, said the alcoholic beverages served mimic the setting of a bar, where trivia is typically held. During trivia nights, Bookends offers specials and caters to a specific book-collecting demographic, Romero said.
“People are starting to think of reading more as a social activity rather than a solitary activity,” Romero said.
According to former events manager Kate Harding, the first night they had the minibar, the staff was unexpectedly packed. Some crowds drank more than others, and she said the first night taught her how to run a bar and which drinks were more popular.
Despite some initial concerns, Harding said customers were very responsible.
“No one comes to the bookstore to buy anything,” Harding said.
Barrett said the Bookends audience was mostly groups attending events, but there were also some people who came alone to enjoy wine and read a bunch of books. Barrett said there has been less business since the store currently closes at 6 p.m. She said Bookends plans to soon change its closing time to 7 p.m.
The bar itself is stacked with bottles of Wild Child’s single-serve wines, and Barrett said it took him a while to find cute single-serves that tasted good. Single servings reduce waste since opening an entire bottle often leaves some leftovers.
The minibar will maintain its size and won’t offer its own cocktails for the foreseeable future, as Barrett said Bookends is primarily a bookstore and having a full bar would require an entirely different staff.
Barrett said the bookstore prioritizes literary hospitality because she wants people to think about buying books differently.
“We spent a lot of time trying to…explain our value proposition as a bookstore,” she said. “If it’s more expensive for you to buy a book from us than from Amazon, why would you buy a book from us? We know every customer has this thought process.”
However, Barrett said the store brings more value to the community than just a book. She said many students come to the store for some peace and quiet during exams, and some come to attend events.
“For me, the bar is an enhancement of our existence—not just a place to buy books, but a place where you can surround yourself with books and people who love books,” she said.
e-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @kaavya_butaney
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