Wild Aster Books will open in March at 460 Chamblee Dunwoody Way in Chamblee, Ga. What Now Atlanta reported that the new bookshop will feature books for both children and adults, with a stage for story times, performances, puppet shows, and more.
"We carved out a space in our store just for that," said Grace Smith, who owns the shop with her husband, Tyler Smith. "We have seating that a lot of bookstores usually don't have. We're inviting people to come hang out and have it to be a third spot."
Film industry professionals originally from Ohio, the Smiths decided in recent years to embark on a new venture after having two children and as their work slowed down due to strikes in the entertainment industry. Their passion for reading and books led to a natural decision. "We love bookstores," Grace Smith noted. "Anywhere we go, that's the place we would try to find. We love reading, we work in movies. It's all stories, and storytelling is a part of our life's work."
"Our reading has picked up," Tyler Smith added. "We were both in between shows a year or two ago. We charted out to see as many bookstores as we possibly could. We've seen pretty much all of them."
After scouting many possible locations for the bookstore, the Smiths found "a traditional and charming building amid a sea of modern apartments and new builds. Grace's background in set decoration comes in handy for designing the space, which will have a warm, comfortable and old-fashioned aesthetic," What Now Atlanta wrote.
"I wanted it to look like the attic from Little Women where it's very whimsical and Victorian, 1800s, cozy. That's what we're going for there," she said. "We want to get people reading."