Ashley and Mandee here! Both of us grew up in Huntington, WV and spent hours at Renaissance Bookstore and Coffee Shop. We would peruse the endless shelves of books, sip on ice caps and lattes in the basement, and take in the occasional reading or live music. In the time since Renaissance closed, there have been a few bookstores that have come and gone. A couple are still here (London Fogs at Cicada anyone?), but we wanted a bookstore that focused on new books, community, and delicious beverages. So we decided to build it!

Booktenders will be an independent bookstore specializing in new books, stationery, and delicious drinks.

We will have an area for readings, book clubs, events, or simply relaxing with a drink and a book. 

We will carry a wide selection of new books with a focus on local, Appalachian, and underrepresented authors.

We will offer a personalized shopping experience for anyone who walks through the doors and create a space for the community to gather.

We plan to open in late April 2022, but we have some fun stuff planned before we cut the ribbon on our permanent space!

No matter what you decide to contribute, we will print your name on the pages of our bar top as a small token of our appreciation. There is an option under each perk to remain anonymous, but if you choose to donate a random amount using the “Back It” button, please send us a message so we will know. 

Any perks you choose will be received by the time on the listing.

Of course we hope for there to be no hiccups, but as we are living in a time of shipping delays some perks may be affected. We will do everything in our power to make sure that isn’t the case.

Booktenders will be located right in the heart of the beautiful Village of Barboursville, WV.

https://goo.gl/maps/NeoRz2fyrSdzbx1e6

Funding from traditional sources can be difficult for first-time business owners to get. That’s why we decided to turn to you guys!

We will still be applying for a loan, but it won’t cover everything we would like to do.

Your support will allow us to make our store as special as it can be and we will be forever grateful that you helped us turn our dream into a reality.

We will be introducing new ways for you to support us in the coming weeks and updating you on our progress.

Keep an eye out for new perks as we will be adding more as our campaign moves forward!

This is the part where we break it down for you:

Initial book order: $35,000-$40,000

Non-book inventory order: $20,000-$25,000

Fixtures (Bookshelves, Displays, Bar, etc.): $12,000

Equipment for coffee, tea, wine, etc.: $15,000

Furniture (couches, chairs, tables, barstools, etc.): $5000

POS, hardware, and inventory management: $3000

Professional fees: $1800

Licenses and Fees: $1000-$1500

We are asking you to help us raise $60,000 so we will be able to fill the store to the brim with all of the books and stationery you could want, comfy furniture, and a few special surprises.  

We are so excited to be a part of the Barboursville community! There are no words for what your help will mean to us, but we will work hard to match your kindness and generosity with charitable programs, outreach, and community involvement. 

Thank you so very much for your support!