This summer, St. Petersburg\u2019s community of independent bookshops is getting a new member. It\u2019s called Pages & Perks, and when it opens at 914 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St S, it promises to be an instant favorite for fiction lovers (and book lovers in general).<\/p>\n
What Now spoke with owners Kate and Ben Johnson on Friday about the inspiration for the new bookshop, which will also feature a lounge serving up beer, wine, and especially mocktails.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been so lucky to be able to do this,\u201d Kate Johnson said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been through stressful times in our careers, and one of the biggest things that got us through was reading\u2014being able to read and escape. We wanted to be able to provide a space for other people to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pages & Perks\u2019 selection will be focused primarily on fiction, \u201cmainly,\u201d Johnson says, \u201cbecause we really believ in getting lost in a story and being transported. That\u2019s why we invite people to come and \u2018escape with us\u2019\u2014whether you\u2019re into horror, sci-fi, fantasy, or graphic novels, or your Dungeons & Dragons campaign. It\u2019s about getting a moment of peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
You can also expect to find nonfiction books like biographies and histories, along with poetry and other arts interests, particularly arts and crafts. In an indie bookshop community where, as the Johnsons describe it, each store has its own little niche, this is theirs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe St. Pete bookstore community is so wonderful; we\u2019re just hoping to add to it. We\u2019ve been very lucky; they\u2019ve all been so welcoming.\u201d<\/p>\n
As mentioned, the lounge\u2019s main focus is on Curious Elixirs mocktails, potions with adaptogens, herbs, mushrooms, and other ingredients that help you kick back and relax without alcohol. That said, there will be a selection of beers from the Tampa Bay area\u2014particularly breweries outside St. Pete, which, as Ben Johnson points out, are often not as readily available in St. Pete, with its robust brewery community.<\/p>\n
One last question, What Now said. What are you favorite books?<\/p>\n
Kate Johnson: \u201cThe book that got me into all this, that tipped me over the edge into being a more avid reader, which I wasn\u2019t always, is\u00a0Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver. That was my gateway drug.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben Johnson: \u201cMy favorite book this year has been The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao.\u201d<\/p>\n
You can keep up with Pages and Perks by following @pagesandperksstpete<\/a> on Instagram.<\/p>\n