It’s been almost exactly seven months since Betty Bayer announced her intention to move Betty’s Books, the Webster Groves shop dedicated to comics, manga, graphic novels, and more, to a new location at 8772 Big Bend. Now, its finally time to welcome patrons into the fresh new space.
Bayer wasn’t planning on moving when she first spotted 8772 Big Bend while driving with her family nearly two years ago. The space needed some serious work, but Bayer was impressed by the location and was able to buy the building with the intent of turning it into a place that could be everything Betty’s Books required to be a true community hub.
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“It took a ton of work, which is literally still going on beneath my feet, but we were able to really make it work for what we were wanting to grow into,” Bayer says. That included adding a dedicated events space dubbed “The Cat Cave,” which doubles as a lounge, and a full-service coffee bar.
Courtesy of Betty’s BooksCourtesy of Betty’s Books
A new mural by Javyn Solomon welcomes visitors to Betty’s Books.
Local art is also a key element of the updated space. Outside, a bold new mural from Javyn Solomon, whose work was featured inside the former Betty’s Books location at 10 Summit Ave., makes 8772 Big Bend easy to spot. Inside, a new mural from the WashU IVC Picture Book Club is up on the walls and Katie Schaefer Illustration–painted signs help visitors find their way to what they’re looking for.
Now, the books have been shelved, the new murals are dry, those signs have been hung, and the new Betty’s Books will officially open for visitors on September 20.
A weekend-long grand reopening celebration is planned in honor of the new space, including a ribbon cutting at 9 a.m. on September 20, multiple zine-making opportunities, a Comics Cat scavenger hunt, and a Super Boba Cafe release party with author Nidhi Chanani.
“We put so much work and care into all the different details of the space, and so I am very excited to see how people interact with the space and what their feedback is,” Bayer says.
Among the festivities is a chance for visitors to get a first taste of the offerings from the shop’s new coffee and pastry program. A special opening day drink and pastry will be available for purchase in addition to items from a limited cafe menu. Full menus will also be on offer to give folks a preview of what’s to come.
Blueprint Coffee provided guidance and training to establish the coffee bar, which will be managed by Alyssa Bennett, the eight-year veteran café manager from Mauhaus Cat Café in Maplewood. Bennett has created a fresh espresso and drink program for Betty’s and will be making all their drink syrups, including flavors such as ube and orange cardamom, in-house. Pastries, including an opening weekend special ube shortbread, will be sourced from Maplewood’s Living Room Coffee & Kitchen.
“We’re just hoping to be even more of a destination for graphic lit lovers around town and hopefully it’ll feel like even more of an outing,” Bayer says. “We definitely have better parking than our old location. You can come and have your coffee or your tea, browse the books, and then maybe stay for an event.”
FYI: Want a sneak peek of the new space before the grand reopening party? Stop by for a zine make and swap with Noir Bookshop founder Ymani Wince on September 18 from 6-8 p.m.