Bards Alley Bookshop, Vienna, Va., is currently undergoing interior renovations. The bookstore previously featured a cafe and wine bar that has been shut down since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Bards Alley is transforming the space into a new children's area, which will include a platform/stage area for the kids (and to host store events), as well as all new shelving to better show off picture books and offer more options for early readers.
"We have also been able to donate the granite counters from the cafe and a few other items to the local Habitat for Humanity chapter," said general manager Mallory Sutton. "We've also taken down a wall to make the store feel more open and hopefully make browsing a bit easier overall. We are building a new receiving room/office space to make receiving and storing overstock more manageable, as that was previously done at the cafe counter."
Plans call for the addition of some new display tables. All of the bookshop's sections have been moved around, increasing and re-organizing the Classics and Current Events sections. Bards Alley will also bring in more vendors for a larger stationery & gifts area.
"We've been open this whole time (with limited hours) to take orders and showcase new releases," Sutton added. "Response has been amazing from our community so far, and everyone is very, very excited for the 'grand reopening!' We're hoping to return to normal operation hours on Tuesday, February 28."