Focused on romance and fantasy, the Velvet Chapter, in the Great Petaluma Mill, is crammed with books about love and magic.<\/p>\n
As Petaluma reacts to news that Copperfield\u2019s is planning to shut its local used book operation<\/a> and hack away around 50% of the remaining retail space, a brand new bookstore has opened just a few blocks away. The Velvet Chapter, specializing in romance and fantasy literature \u2013 a various gilded and scalloped, Goth-adjacent gifts and goodies \u2013 officially opened to the public on August 2, at the Great Petaluma Mill.<\/p>\n The small but gorgeously decorated shop has moved into the space formerly occupied by Refill Mercantile<\/a>, which has moved to the other side of the building, taking over the spot once held by the children\u2019s clothing store The Hunter & The Bird.<\/p>\n That beloved little boutique, meanwhile, has moved to a new spot on Kentucky Street, where it is sharing new digs with Chick City Goods, which has itself moved from a tiny space near Copperfield\u2019s to the larger real estate it now shares with The Hunter & The Bird.<\/p>\n Got all that? Anyway, the point is: Petaluma has a new book store.<\/p>\n \u201cAt The Velvet Chapter, we believe stories are sacred,\u201d reads a vividly exuberant declaration on the store\u2019s new website, TheVelvetChapter.com<\/a>. \u201cWhether it\u2019s a slow-burn romance, a high-stakes fantasy, or something deliciously in between \u2013 we curate every title with heart and magic in mind. We champion diverse voices, bold emotions, and unforgettable characters. We\u2019re here for the readers who want to feel something real, get lost in the pages, and find community in the in-between. This isn\u2019t just a bookstore. It\u2019s a soft place to land. A secret door to another world. A velvet-draped portal to the stories that stay with you long after The End.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s a lot for such a little shop, but based on what was happening on opening day, this seems to be the team to pull it off. Promising fun stuff like subscription boxes for romance lovers and a weekly celebration of New Release Tuesday, the store launched promisingly enough with an opening day party that hundreds of people lining up for a chance to be among the first inside.<\/p>\n