Allison & Jamie: The Book Wyrm Bookstore
"My heart is for helping people and serving the community"
Allison Grant opening The Book Wyrm Bookstore was a mix of serendipity, a love for literacy, and a profound desire to serve the community. We had a great conversation as she was gearing up to open this past fall, and her doors have been open now for 6 months!
A Heart for Service and a Family Bond
Allison’s background isn’t in retail, but in people. As a stay-at-home mom and a constant presence in local schools, she spent years fundraising and organizing volunteer efforts.
"My heart is for helping people and serving the community," she explains.
The spark for the bookstore specifically grew out of her own home. Reading was the "mini book club" she shared with her husband, Jamie, and a passion they passed down to their children.
When a local bookstore of 38 years announced it was closing, the news hit home. Allison used to buy books there for her own AP English classes, and the thought of the community losing that space prompted a major move. They reached out to buy the inventory, and suddenly, they were the keepers of 148 boxes of stories.
Navigating the "Slower Side" of Real Estate
She recalls that going from the dream of owning a bookstore to owning a physical storefront proved to be the most challenging chapter of the journey. While Allison found dealing with the city surprisingly smooth, the world of commercial real estate was another story.
"It’s a much slower process than I was prepared for," she says, citing long wait times for permits and a fair share of "ghosting" from agents. These hurdles even influenced the business model; a planned coffee shop addition was sidelined for now to simplify the permitting process. Despite these setbacks, the local response remained high. The community was buzzing, and that excitement fueled the need to keep pushing toward the grand opening.
Dragons and Librarians
The shop’s name, The Book Wyrm, is a nod to both folklore and family history. Inspired by a book about myths she used to read to her son, Allison settled on "Wyrm" - the Old English spelling for a dragon or mythical serpent.
The branding features a wingless dragon named Hazel, a tribute to Jamie’s grandmother, who was a librarian. It’s a perfect bridge between the magical world of fiction and the very real legacy of literacy the Grants are working to preserve.
Sourcing Joy in the Small Details
Beyond the books, Allison has found unexpected joy in the creative "sidelines" of the business. She has turned the shop into a platform for local talent, sourcing unique items that give the store its "Oddities" flair.
Local Art: Stationery from a neighborhood watercolor artist.
Handcrafted Goods: Custom bookmarks from a local woodworker.
Kid-Owned Business: "Unicorn horn" fidget spinners created by a local 5th grader using a 3D printer.
For Allison, the shop isn't just about selling; it's about shining a spotlight on the creative people in her own backyard.
Advice for the Aspiring Bookseller
For those dreaming of their own bookshop, Allison is candid about the reality of the industry. "Most people are not going to get rich selling books," she notes, echoing advice from "YouTube University" and mentors in the field.
She recommends doing deep research via the American Booksellers Association and groups like Booksellers Mentors on Facebook. The work is physically demanding—Allison has personally touched every one of the 13,000 books (as of fall 2025) in her inventory—and involves wearing every hat from accountant to custodian.
However, for the Grants, the reward is the ability to offer a "hidden gem" to a neighbor and keep the spirit of a community bookstore alive.
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