Introducing My Long-Held Dream—A BOOKSHOP!

Yes, you read that right—I’m opening a BOOKSHOP in Middleburg, Virginia!

It’s been a wild few months since signing a lease in June.

You know the Morells have a saying: Two things happen in life—good things and good stories. We’ve been renovating a space in a building dating back to the 1750s (!), so there have been more than a few good stories along the way.

Let’s start with this: During the demolition phase during week one, we opened the ceiling and discovered a crumbling chimney. Brick dust was raining down from the heavens. The solution? Over 2,000 pounds of bricks had to be carted out of the space, wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow, before the rest could shored up and stabilized. What a way to start!

Our luck did improve, and our design/build team at Middleburg Design Company has been amazing every step of the way (We love you Gretchen and Jason and Aldo!). The space has been transformed, and we’re so, so close to completion of the scrumptious jewel-toned bookstore of my dreams.

But Middleburg Books will be so much more than the yummy space. We’ve been working to build a carefully curated selection of the latest fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books, with a lovely collection of cookbooks (to feed my low-key cookbook addiction), and Michael will be adding a robust selection of national security gems and spy thrillers.

I can’t wait to start recommending books to you all in person!

I also look forward to becoming a part of the Middleburg community. We are planning all sorts of wonderful things: book subscriptions for children and adults, annual memberships, and special events—with dozens of book clubs, author visits, story times, and literary retreats.

We’ll dive into all that…once we open in two weeks. (!)  

In the meantime, please be sure to follow us on Instagram, and take a peek at our website to learn more about our adventure.

Here’s to the great that awaits!

Xo, Mary Beth