TBR Books & Tea will open this spring in Baton Rouge, La., the Advocate reported.
Store owner Jamie Freeman, who worked as a consultant for nonprofits prior to becoming a bookseller, has found a 2,500-square-foot space at 7276 Highland Rd. She'll carry a general-interest, all-ages inventory with a strong children's section, and the store will serve coffee, tea, and baked goods.
Freeman, a lifelong voracious reader, always dreamed of owning a bookstore. She is also the co-host of a podcast called Ink Drinkers, which features book discussions over tea. Last year she decided to take the plunge and stepped back from her previous career, and in October she found TBR's future home.
She told the Advocate that she has relied on help from her family, including even her four-year-old niece and nine-year-old nephew. After asking them for recommendations, "they both gave me lists of books they want me to stock. I just think that's adorable. The whole family is really involved!"
Freeman expects the store to be open in April.