Charm City Books, a general-interest independent bookstore in Baltimore, Md., has opened in the city's Pigtown neighborhood, Baltimore magazine reported.
The store resides in a two-story building that was once a Baltimore Police Department substation. The first floor features the store's book inventory, which covers all genres and ages from children to adults, and has a particular focus on work from marginalized voices. The bookstore's second floor, meanwhile, is meant to serve primarily as a gathering and events space.
Owners Daven Ralston and her husband, Joseph Carlson, have no bookselling experience, but have worked as actors, musicians and educators throughout the greater Baltimore area. They hope eventually to expand their events program to include a variety of live performances for both children and adults and want the store to become a hub for creatives in the area.
"The neighborhood has a really strong sense of their history, and it's very special," Ralston told Baltimore magazine. "Everyone wants to help each other. You don't get that everywhere."