Annie LeCluyse got the idea to open a bookstore two years ago on election night, when she opted to watch the Hallmark Channel instead of following the results.
"Because I come from the social work field, I knew we were gonna need connection, community and just a safe space over the next handful of years," LeCluyse said.
"And I knew that my love of romance, for me it's escape and the community that it is, just the wide array of readers that it allows, it drew to me." On Saturday, LeCluyse will open Philadelphia's second romance-only bookstore, Page Burners, in partnership with Mad Cat Brewtique at 2036 Sansom St.
in Center City.
The street level will feature a hybrid local artisan and coffee shop, and the books can be found downstairs in the basement.
It's the first storefront for Page Burners, which previously operated in pop-ups and sold its books on pink shelves at Mad Cat's old location and the Little Treat boutique.
When Mad Cat decided to move to a larger space, owner Cassidy Fairey said she immediately thought of LeCluyse as a possible partner.
LeCluyse instantly said yes.
While there are other romance-only bookstores in Manayunk and Collingswood, New Jersey, she thought Center City could use one, too.
"(Collaboration) brings in different people, and even just having the bookshelves at the stores before ...
was widening my ability to get to people," LeCluyse said.
"It's nice because I don't come from the business world, and so having relationships with people that also are small business owners and....
