A new bookstore-on-wheels will be rolling into communities across Northern Virginia starting later this month.
Owl & Ink, a mobile bookstore focusing on events in Fairfax, Prince William, and Fauquier counties, will wheel into its first event — an evening of reading and sipping during Silent Book Club at The Casual Pint (2676 Avenir Place) — near the Dunn Loring Metro station in Merrifield on July 20.
The bookstore will be on-site from 5:30-8 p.m., while the book club begins at 6.
For owner Stacie Malinowski, a Montclair resident, the traveling bookstore is the fulfillment of an entrepreneurial bent and a wish to spend more time creatively.
“I’ve always been a voracious reader and book enthusiast, and reading … all different types of genres, from fiction to nonfiction,” said Malinowski, who lived in Fairfax County for years before moving to Prince William. “And I loved the idea of being able to curate an experience like that, and be able to kind of take it to various locations and bring that … to the community’s doorstep.”
The idea took root when Malinowski began noticing the growing popularity of mobile bookstores, often with large followings on social media, offering cozy, literary experiences on the go.
While no one appears to track the total number nationwide, the American Booksellers Association, a trade association for independent bookstores, says its active members include 137 mobile bookstores. Six of those are in Virginia, including one based in Fredericksburg and one in Arlington.
Malinowski said she’s found a lot of support in getting started from other bookshops.
“I’ve been really pleasantly surprised at how open-armed the entire book community has been, particularly other mobile bookstore owners across the country,” said Malinowski, who previously worked in marketing for commercial real estate. “They have been so open to sharing and talking about how they got started, the best practices, things to look out for.”
Her new bookstore will specialize in fiction, particularly fantasy and romantasy, as well as historical fiction, romance, sci-fi and literary fiction. There will also be a light curation of children’s books, and a small rotating showcase of five to six independent authors from Virginia.
Malinowski decided she wanted an owl to be a part of the bookstore name to represent “wisdom, curiosity, discovery and lifelong learning.” On the logo, he wears glasses for a touch of whimsy.
Ink represents the written word: “Wisdom meets stories,” Malinowski said.
Once her new business is in full swing, Malinowski hopes that she’ll regularly be bringing the trailer to farmers’ markets, wineries, breweries, and private events — leaving people feeling like “they had fun and they found something unique.”
