St. Pete’s newest bookstore is a dreamworld escape in the middle of the city. Reverie Room, located at 655 31st Street South, is set to debut in late September in the Warehouse Arts District, bringing a literary oasis to the neighborhood home to local stars like Beech Kombucha and St. Petersburg Distillery.
Reverie Room has been in the works for years, and the reimagined space features everything from new release novels and modern nonfiction to fantasy, romance, sci-fi, classic novels, and a full children’s literature room. The store is located in the former House of Vegano space, and while return visitors will recognize the bar (soon to be your next happy hour spot for wine, beer and a bit of reading), the rest of the space has been completely transformed.
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St. Pete’s newest bookstore and third space
With four separate themed rooms and a reading lounge hidden speakeasy-style behind a bookshelf, walking into Reverie Room feels like walking into a book. The same way that books take us into a different world with the turn of a page, the transition from the industrial neighborhood and exterior to the literary-themed worlds within takes you by surprise, and it requires no more than walking through the door.
Each room has its own theme, and the entire store is filled with artwork inspired by reading, adventure, and the St. Pete area. Even the bathrooms tell a story, with one taking guests down the Alice in Wonderland-inspired rabbit hole and another surrounding readers with mythical creatures from wall to wall.
However, as much as Reverie Room is full of escapes into different stories, the store is also designed to be a third space entirely on its own. With its horseshoe bar, countless reading nooks, and full lounge, Reverie Room naturally invites guests to linger. Owner Nichole Coronado wants to create a community within the bookstore, where people can make new friends, connect with old ones, participate in events and activities, and feel at home with a book in hand (and maybe a nice glass of red in the other).
“I love books, and I love how books bond people,” Coronado said. “Someone you’ve never even talked to will walk up and say, ‘Hey, I read that book.’ I want Reverie Room to be a third space and a community space for people to come hang out and find their next adventure in a book, as well as meet new friends they can bond with. It’s a safe, comforting space and hopefully a cozy experience.”
Full details will be announced in the coming weeks, but Reverie Room is expected to be open Tuesday-Sunday each week, roughly from 2-8 pm, with hours subject to change to meet customer habits. Beer, wine and nonalcoholic beverages will be available once the license is finalized, giving readers even more reason to stay and enjoy the space. Guests are also invited to stop in with their Beech Kombucha from across the parking lot and relax in the AC while perusing the shelves.
Intimate book clubs in St. Pete
Reverie Room will also host regularly occurring events, with plans for book clubs, silent reading gatherings, yoga, Pilates, craft nights, author engagements, and even educational classes, among others. Coronado also wants to start a walking group along the neighboring Pinellas Trail, offering an interactive option for audiobook listeners who like to get their steps in.
One of the keys for the book clubs, Coronado said, will be limiting them to smaller numbers. With five individual rooms as opposed to one large space, the store naturally lends itself to more intimate gatherings. Coronado hopes that smaller groups will lead to deeper bonds and discussions alike.
“That way, you get to know everyone and get comfortable talking to them,” she explained. “I want to make it more intimate, and that’s why I like the individual rooms. I want to keep things smaller. I’m more introverted, and I know a lot of bookish people are, too.”
As for Coronado herself, Reverie Room is the real-life manifestation of an adulthood dream and lifelong passion. She remembers coming home with a bag full of books every time her mother would take her to the library van in the summers, and any time her parents couldn’t find her, they’d always discover her tucked away in a nook somewhere reading.
The idea of Reverie Room quietly stirred around in the back of Coronado’s mind for years as an adult working in a fast-paced and high-pressure office. Nothing against the work she was doing, Coronado said, but the vision of Reverie Room eventually took such hold that she decided to leave her day job and make that dream a reality. For more than a year, she has dedicated her time exclusively to bringing it all to life.
The passion shows in the final product, based on our early peek as the space nears completion. Stay tuned for official news on the Reverie Room grand opening, and be sure to follow the store on Instagram to see the latest. Reverie Room is located at 655 31st Street South. Learn more on their website.
“Sit in Reverie and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
