A tiny Bookshop-Cafe.

If you could start a new business right now, what would it be?

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”Can I ask you something?”

If money, experience and the terrifying amount of paperwork involved weren’t an issue… What business would you start tomorrow?

I’ve thought about this. And apparently, my answer is: I would open a bookshop-cafe. 

I realise this is not particularly revolutionary. Books exist. Coffee exists. Someone has already discovered that putting the two together is an excellent idea. But mine would be different. At least… That’s what every future business owner says approximately five minutes before creating a Pinterest board. 

First, the coffee  . 

Obviously. There would be coffee. Good coffee. Really good coffee. But I wouldn’t want that kind of place where you feel as though you need a degree in coffee terminology to order one. 

You want cappuccino? Lovely. Iced coffee? Absolutely! Tea? We will forgive you. 

There would be hot chocolate, because, sometimes, life required whipped cream on top. And the mugs would matter. No identical white cafe cups. I want shelves of mismatched mugs. Flowers, hearts, autumn mugs, Christmas mugs. Mugs with animals on them… If you had seen into my cupboards of mugs, you would understand. 

Then. The books  .

This would not be one of those intimidating bookshops where you feel judged because you haven’t read Dostoevsky. There would be classics, romance, fantasy, mysteries, beautiful children’s books, cookbooks, travel books. All kinds of books. And I would add an entire section called ”I don’t know what I want to read, just give me something good”. 

The chairs would be dangerous. And by that I mean: You would sit down and lose three hours. There would be armchairs beside windows. Little tables for two, a sofa somewhere in the back. Lamps instead of hard overhead lighting. Blankets for the cold days, plants, candles, soft music. And absolutely no chairs designed to become uncomfortable after forty-five minutes. 

This bookshop-cafe would change with the seasons. This is non-negotiable. Autumn arrives and there would be pumpkins, warm lights, cinnamon, leaves, cozy displays and a number of knitted things. Christmas? Don’t even get me started on this! There will be fairy lights, gingerbread houses, Christmas books and even Michael Bublé would inevitable appear. Spring would bring flowers and lighter colours and Summer would mean open windows, iced coffee and ice cream and travel books everywhere. 

Obviously, dogs would be welcome. There would be a water bowl by the door, a welcome sign for your dog. Treats behind the counter and extra if you asked for them. 

I think what I’d really want is to create a place where people feel comfortable staying. Somewhere you could come along without actually feeling lonely. Somewhere for friends to spend an entire afternoon. Somewhere books could be read. Really read. Somewhere you couuld write, think and talk. Or simply sit by the window with a warm mug and watch the world go by. 

Actually… Now that I’ve written all of this, I am slightly annoyed that my imaginary cafe does not exist…