Wellington Square Bookshop is a hidden treasure. Nestled into the Eagleview Town Center, this beautiful shop and café – which opened nearly three years ago, features a broad array of books for both adults and children and holds monthly events. For book lovers in Chester County, this quaint bookshop provides a literary adventure.
Inside the front door, the calming sound of a fountain soothes the nerves. The shop features built-in cherry wood bookshelves, giving shoppers the impression they are in someone’s personal library. In a way, they are. Wellington Square Bookshop started out with many used books from owner Sam Hankin’s personal collection. The bookshop now sells new, used and scarce books in all genres.
I recently stopped in to meet Ryann Wickershamm, the bookshop manager and an avid book lover herself. She was nice enough to give me a tour of the shop.
“We get people who come in from work to get a fresh cup of coffee,” Ryann said. “Also, people stroll over after having lunch and browse.” Wellington Square Bookshop is located a few doors down from Nudy’s Cafe and around the corner from the Brickside Grille.
The front of the store features bestsellers and new fiction. To the right, a wall features books that were recently featured on Hankin’s WCHE radio show. He has interviewed Liz Moore, the author of Heft; Eleanor Brown, author of The Weird Sisters; and Paul Harding, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Tinkers.
Perched on a hutch are the latest Indie Bound Bestsellers, which are sold for twenty percent off list price. Other nooks invite children to explore books and toys. In the center of the store, an espresso counter divides the space. The café serves Hobo Ed’s locally roasted coffee, organic muffins and pastries from the Healthy Beings Café, and cookies and biscotti baked by Elizabeth Stoudt of Stoudt’s Brewing Company.
My favorite spot is the rear of the store, which opens up to reveal what looks like a library from an updated Downton Abbey. Comfortable chairs surround a large coffee table, inviting the shopper to relax with coffee and a book for a few hours. The built-in bookshelves in this rear section hold many used books, several are first edition and/or signed.
The most impressive spot in the bookshop is the rare book room. Set in a corner of the shop, this locked room contains some very inspiring rare books, with the trophy being a first edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses. Ryann picked up a small book and showed me, “this contains the first short story JD Salinger ever published.” I noted they also had a signed copy of Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club.
As part of their mission to be a community bookstore, Wellington Square Bookshop hosts several events each month.
On Tuesdays at 10 a.m., they host Story Time for Children. Children of all ages are invited but most are aged 1-4 years old. No need to make reservations.
For adults, Wellington Square hosts a monthly book club. The book club conveniently meets twice a month to discuss the selection, giving book club members a choice of times that fits their schedule. On the third Wednesday of the month, the club meets from 2-4 p.m. If a book club member can’t make this session, they can attend on the third Thursday from 7-9 p.m. to discuss the same book. Blood, Bones and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton is the book being read in March. Anyone can join the book club!
Wellington Square Bookshop also hosts an Open Mic Night on the second Friday of the month. “It’s mostly musicians, though some people get up and read their short stories,” Ryann said. “We usually get at least thirty people, and you sign up for a ten minute slot. It’s BYOB.”
Many authors hold events at the bookshop. West Chester writer Jorgen Flood recently held a successful reading for two of his historical fiction books, The Twilight of the North: From Byzantium to Stamford Bridge and To Live and Die in 1030. Gene Pisasale, the author of Vineyard Days, has also held a booksigning at the shop.
In addition to these events, local writer Susan Weidener runs a popular womens’ writing circle that meets at Wellington Square Bookshop on the second Saturday of the month. The writing circle is a chance for women to share their memoir writing and receive encouragement to keep their project on track.
Wellington Square Bookshop is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m, Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. They happily stay open late upon request if your book club would like to meet there. You can call Wellington Square Bookshop at 610-458-1144 to learn more.
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