Scout's Tales, a 1,200-square-foot general bookstore, opened August 1 in Arlington Heights, Ill., the Daily Herald reported.
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| Opening day at Scout's Tales | |
Located at 22 S. Dunton Ave., Scout's Tales carries new titles for all ages, with historical fiction, cookbooks, and children's books proving especially popular so far. Alongside books, owner and former English teacher Dana Foley carries candles, puzzles, apparel, tote bags, and a variety of gifts. Event plans include author visits, book clubs, and more.
A lifelong reader, Foley retired from a 25-year career in education in June. As her retirement approached, she decided that she would begin her next chapter by opening an independent bookstore and fulfilling a long-held dream. She signed a letter of intent to open the bookstore in its current home back in December, and she named the store after her first dog, whom she named after the narrator in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Prior to the store's opening, Foley made several pop-up appearances at local businesses to build a local following and co-hosted a book club at a local bar. Before that, she was sharing book recommendations on social media and had two Little Free Libraries in her yard.
Noting that downtown Arlington Heights hasn't had a bookstore in years, Foley said the store has been very well received. Opening day brought long lines of customers to the bookstore, and business has been brisk. Foley has had trouble keeping some titles in stock, and customers have asked her to host things as varied as wedding showers, mahjong games, and crafts workshops.
"Every bookstore is different," Foley told the Daily Herald. "You can go in 10 bookstores in one day and have a totally different vibe, which is why people love bookstores."