Rudolph Girls Bookstore hosted its grand opening celebration over the weekend at 15 E. Main Street, Suite 112, in Westminster, Md. The Carroll County Times reported that the new bookshop, represents a "shared dream between two sisters," co-owners Nikki Rhodes and Ali King, Carroll County public school teachers "who decided to channel their passion for reading into a business. After years of family dinner conversations fantasizing about opening a bookstore, the sisters decided to finally take the leap in January."
"We really do believe that bookstores can be the hub of a community, and that it helps people who may be introverted and not really know how to start friendships or start conversations with people," Rhodes said. "Everybody loves to talk about the books that they love."
King added: "It's been a huge learning curve, but we've been so incredibly lucky with people answering every single question that we have." Their goal is to create a cozy and inviting space with initiatives for people to connect with fellow community members through reading.
Early in the process, Rhodes and King held story times at the Westminster Farmers Market on Saturdays, maintained an active social media presence and raised funds by selling T-shirts. In addition to virtual meetings with several booksellers, "they bonded particularly well" with Annie Philbrick, owner of Bank Square Books, Mystic, Conn., and the Savoy Bookshop & Cafe, Westerly, R.I., the Carroll County Times wrote.
"Independent bookstores are vital to the shopping local movement and just bring a wonderful world of discovery and browsing to people," Philbrick said. "Sharing a book is like sharing a part of yourself that you like, and it's just really special."
Rudolph Girls Bookstore is currently one of the five finalists for the Carroll County Biz Challenge, a competition for local entrepreneurs to pitch business ideas, network, get publicity and compete for a $10,000 prize, among other additional prizes and services. If they win, the owners plan to use the cash prize for holiday decorating at their store and restocking inventory.