Book Store Dreams

For this week's Road Trip Wednesday, the good people over at YA Highway are asking the questions,

If you could open your own bookstore, what would it look like? What kinds of books would you sell?

This is actually a question I've thought about a lot. I've always thought it would be fun to own a bookstore, and I know exactly how I want it to look/feel. As more and more people read e-books and shop on-line, the function of traditional bookstores has changed.

So if I ever own a bookstore it is going to be more than half coffee shop. And the name of the store will the The Book and Bean. I'll have a stage set up in the coffee shop for open mic nights, poetry readings, and author book readings. I want it to feel like a really fun place to come hang out. The YA section will probably be the largest section of actual books, since teens who can't hangout in bars will all be spending their Saturday nights at my store, which will be open late on weekends.

Sticking with the coffee theme, the main feature of the store will be an espresso book machine. I expect in a few decades, or even years, print on demand will become the primary source of paper books. And every bookstore that wants to keeps it's doors open will need its own POD machine. My general desire to want to buck the curb and buy an espresso book machine early is how I got the whole idea for The Book and Bean.

I don't have the capital to go buy a POD machine right now, or the ambition to become a store owner. So if you want to steel my idea and start this store on your own, feel free. What about you? What would your bookstore look like?