Westbrook will soon have an independent bookstore, a coffee shop and bar – all rolled into one.
Quill Books and Beverage has announced plans to open in downtown Westbrook. The exact location is still not public as co-owners Matthew Irving and Allison Krzanowski finalize their lease, but they will host a used book sale at Mast Landing Brewing on Sunday to help with their startup costs.
“It’s going to be a pop-up bookstore,” Krzanowski said. “So they can expect to see the types of books at the prices we plan on selling for in the bookstore. They’ll get a feel for the selection we have.”
Irving and Krzanowski have never owned a bookstore before – she does social work and owns a business selling handwoven items, and he runs a bar in Portland. The idea was born when they bought a home in Westbrook last year.
“We wanted to meet other young people and meet people in the community and have a place people could gather,” she said. “We didn’t really find that, so we decided to create it.”
They hope to open Quill in late fall. The owners want the collection to reflect a diverse range of writers and experiences.
“We really want our entire community represented,” Krzanowski said. “LGBTQ people, people of color, Muslims, immigrants. We’ve been really working to have a finely curated collection.”
The store will sell books for all ages. Most will be priced from $6 to $8, though children’s and young adult books will cost $3 to $5.
The coffee shop will also serve beer and wine, and the menu will include breakfast and lunch items and evening snacks. Quill will host community events like book talks, poetry readings and art shows.
“We’re really trying to be a community focused space,” she said.
The business will need approval from the Westbrook Planning Board before it can open. The book sale at Mast Landing Brewing at 920 Main St. will last from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Updates about the store’s opening date and location will be shared on Quill’s Facebook page.
Megan Doyle can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:
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