The newest tenant here at Savage Mill, The Bonnie Wee Bookstore, opened their doors just in time to welcome the crowds who attended our literary-themed Girls Night Out earlier this month. Owned by Candice and Brian Mumpower, The Bonnie Wee Bookstore features an extensive collection of gently-used books alongside vinyl records. The space beckons passersby to peruse the shelves of books and then while away the afternoon on a comfy reading chair or chaise lounge surrounded by a thoughtful selection of beautifully-restored antique pieces. In the back, a dedicated children’s corner welcomes with picture books and kid-sized furniture.
We swung by the bookstore to speak with Candice about the origins of The Bonnie Wee Bookstore and their plans for their new business.
What inspired you to open a bookstore, and in particular, a used bookstore?
I have always loved books and reading and so have my kids. We frequent bookstores and one day I thought it would be so nice to open our own. Used books was a no brainer. We love the idea of recycling and reusing, so we decided this would be the best option for us.
Are you bookworms?
My kids and I are book worms. My husband is a car manual kind of guy.
Is there a story behind the name?
My mother’s family is from Scotland. She helped us pick the name. It means “the beautiful little bookstore”.
This is a family business. What are your roles?
Brian and I run the store every day, and our children Cameron and Farrah are here after school and on the weekends. Even our pup “Sully” is a bookworm and here on a daily basis.
Do you have a favorite novel or genre?
My favorite genres are Romance, Fantasy and History. Farrah’s are Manga and mystery, Cameron likes sports and history, and Brian loves automotive books/manuals
What are some features of your bookstore or the programming you’re planning to offer that you’d like people to know about?
We feature all used books and vinyl records, cute journals, and bookmarks. In the future, we are planning to have retired schoolteachers lead readings for children.
How has your career helped prepare you for this opportunity?
My career is insurance. I run an insurance agency offering a range of commercial coverages to businesses. My husband is retired from the technology sector. Our collective experience will help us plan events, secure high levels of quality inventory and build relationships.
Your soft opening was during Girls Night Out the other week. Did you make any interesting connections during that event?
Everyone loved checking out the charcuterie! The crowd was also very excited to see a bookstore back at the Mill. We even had a few authors introduce themselves to us, which was neat.
What else would you like readers to know?
We are treasure hunters looking for the coolest books around. We love adopting books from different homes and putting them on the shelves for everyone to enjoy.
