July 1 was the first real day. The shelves were stocked, the furniture was in place, and the door was open. I called it “all set up with a selection of books to complement Rustique Furniture” which was true, but it undersold the feeling. After weeks of planning, sorting, and dreaming, people were finally walking through the door.
The children's section was an instant hit. Bright covers, sturdy picture books, stories that sparked questions. “Loved all your selection of books, but especially the good quality kids books,” someone commented. That first day, someone even reconnected with an old friend in the comments. I pinned the post for them: “You could make a date to meet at the shop then grab a coffee next door.”
Day two was all about greenery. Plants found their way onto the sidewalk, into urns, around the shop. There's something about a bookshop full of green life that makes everything feel possible. The big Buddha statue arrived around this time too, keeping watch by the window.
I started offering a 10% discount for local teachers from Longbeach. It felt right books and education belong together, and the teachers who showed up were exactly the kind of readers every bookshop dreams of.
One of the early discoveries was a customer who loved steam trains. I ordered in Andrew Martin's Steam Trains Today before it was even released. The writer's corner took shape with an old typewriter on a table not quite finished, but full of potential. “Writer's corner in place... but needs a bit of work,” I posted. It became a favourite spot.
By July 7, a new stock delivery arrived and the response was overwhelming. Seventy-three likes, eleven comments. People who didn't know the shop existed suddenly did. “I didn't know about you. I'll pop in,” one person wrote. “Wow a bookshop in Chelsea I'll be in very soon!” said another.
The 80s hairdo post was pure fun a stack of LPs on the counter including Berlin's Count Three & Pray and a 1986 record. “Raise your hand if you had one of these hairdos in the 80s.” The comments delivered.
Every book I featured came with a conversation. Malala's Magic Pencil (Puffin, $15.99) a picture book biography for ages 6 to 10 that sparks questions about courage and education. Matt Haig's The Comfort Book (Canongate, $34.99) part memoir, part reflection a title I recommended to anyone navigating a hard week. Sylvia Plath's Ariel (Faber, $19.99 hardcover) because great poetry belongs in every bookshop. I tried to carry a mix of ages, genres, and price points so there was always something for everyone who walked in.
The Ink & Spindle gift cards arrived and were beautiful screen-printed fabric, handcrafted in Melbourne by a local textile studio. A delivery from Dave the book delivery man became a regular highlight. “Thank you Dave, my kind book delivery man for getting in new stock before the weekend.”
By mid-July, the shop had a rhythm. Mornings sorting stock, afternoons with customers, evenings adding new titles to the online store. Click and collect was in the works. Local delivery was coming. The shop was alive.
And then Melbourne locked down again.