A North Providence bookstore is more than a new business. It’s a revelation.
Alexandria DiGregorio’s venture, Forget Me Not Fables Bookshop, opened in December in a former barbershop at 1986 Smith St., across from Town Hall.
DiGregorio predicts the lasting appeal of physical books gives them staying power.
Before launching, she was a vendor at community events such as WaterFire in Providence, where she said the demand for a physical store is evident and many customers were curious if she had a place of her own.
Forget Me Not Fables hosted a ticketed soft opening party on Nov. 29, where her theory seemed proven.
While online retailers compete with all brick-and-mortars no matter if it is the only bookstore or one among dozens, many readers still prefer a community hub for studying and socializing.
“When you support small businesses, the money goes right back into your community,” she said. “The benefits of supporting locals are far more abundant than you’d find by stuffing the already-deep pockets of big corporations.”
DiGregorio plans to feature shelves dedicated to works by local authors alongside national bestsellers. She has already launched a weekly newsletter.