Meet Amber Taylor, owner Fonts Books & Gifts: Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day, Saturday April 27. In addition to books, Fonts offers journaling supplies, greeting cards, puzzles, knitted gifts, and non-alcoholic spirits.
The story of Fonts Books & Gifts
I’ve always loved books and I’ve always loved bookstores, especially community bookstores and we were definitely missing that. I was very happy when I discovered One More Page Books in Arlington, right on the border of Falls Church but I wanted something closer — to give that to the McLean community. I was looking for somewhere not too far from my house, somewhere that needed a bookstore. With the revitalization at Chesterbrook, it just felt like the right time. It’s pretty exciting to watch after living here for about ten years. I’ve been here at this house so nearby and it was kind of a sad space for a while. So I was like, Is it something that I can really do? Is it something that can be successful? Can I be successful at it?
I actually had my own communications consulting business for the last twelve years. I’ve done my own books and run my own business in that way, but brick and mortar is definitely very different than that. I started doing the research. There’s a couple who run a program that they help train people who want to own bookstores. I went and spent a weekend with them at their store in Florida and went through their training and came back pretty excited. One of the tips that they offered was to meet other local bookstore owners and talk with them and y get a feel for it. The day after I got back, I reached out to Eileen [McGervey] at One More Page Books and we had coffee. At the end of coffee, she was like: “If you really think you wanna do this, come and work for me and you can really see what it’s like.” That turned into Covid. It was not exactly what normal bookstore life is like, but I got to experience a crisis at a bookstore and figure our way through it. It was amazing training. I just can’t thank her enough for that.
The store: Fonts Books & Gifts
Just over a thousand square feet— that’s what I’ve got to contain my book buying . The trainings that I’ve done is helpful. I also did a 14-week course with a new professional bookseller school on inventory management. That was very helpful to help sort of go, Okay, I’ve got a thousand square feet, how many books can I fit in that space? What’s my budget for that? Our space actually has 12-foot ceilings, so I’m going to try to use some of the high space. I’m not going to add a ladder — the slide ladder — at least not yet. We’ll have cards, gifts, puzzles — a lot of things will definitely have sort of that bookish, reader-ish theme. We’re going to have some fun [with some] plushies, little knitted things. They’ll be gifts for babies and kids and things like that. I’d like to see what else I can bring in from the local maker community too. I want to see what people ask for. If they’ve been looking for something, I’m happy to look and see what we can get. We will offer free gift wrapping for all the books. We’re working on what we can do for the other gift items.
Amber Taylor with her husband Keith and daughter Miranda, who both plan to make themselves useful at Taylor’s new McLean book store, Fonts Books & Gifts.
Beyond Books
The new Non-Fiction Book Club: This book club will meet on the third Thursday of each month, unless otherwise noted.
Mystery Book Club: This book club will meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise noted.
Literary Fiction Book Club: The Historical/Literary Book Club will will be meeting on the fourth Thursday of each month, unless otherwise noted.
For the kids
I was actually working with my Penguin Random House representative yesterday who is just solely focused on kids books. So I’m hoping to be able to offer a little bit of everything. I have a 10-year-old, so she’s already been hired to help recommend books to those younger and her age. And hope to have a good young adult section as well that I know a lot of adult readers like to read. We’ll see if there’s an appetite for kid author events. We’ll have to just kind of see if that’s what the community wants as well.
I was actually just thinking the other day that I need to get the reading lists. I’ve had some people reach out and say they wanted to buy the books that their kids need to read from a local bookstore.
Font’s Books & Gifts: Give McLean what it wants
I’m kind of going on what I know just of folks that I know in the community and what they’re reading and what they’re interested in and we’ll grow and change our inventory as needed to what really the local community is looking for. We’ll have all the bestsellers, but I’m also hoping to to bring in some unique things. That’s part of the lovely thing about small bookstores is there’s always something to discover, which was part of my little bird and my logo. It’s sort of a discovery— getting out and looking at things. We can special order pretty much anything as long as it’s still in print.
One of the other things I’m going to be carrying at the store are non-alcoholic spirits, which is new to some people, but it’s like the tequila without the alcohol. I’m going to bring in a guy who’s just amazing in that field and has been crafting all kinds of drinks. We’re hoping to do an event with him before the end of the year too.
Font’s neighbors in McLean
I actually am banking with TD Bank right next door. I have popped in and I’ve had my nails done a few times at my other neighbor, [Lotus Nails] And then I’ve met the owner of Le Village Marche. When I was at One More Page, I actually coordinated a Small Business Saturday event with about 16 other small independent stores and restaurants around the bookstore and we did a really fun, passport on Small Business Saturday, so you could go around to different stores and enter to win prizes and things. I really love that community of small businesses and I’m looking forward to being part of it in McLean too.
We definitely hit up the Balducci’s quite often. Miranda has done some camps at the Bach to Rock. [Music School] We love that place. We eat at Mylo’s Grill and we’re loving Call Your Mother [Lil’ Deli McLean].
Font’s Books & Gifts: 6262 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA 22101.
In
Read more about the people behind McLean’s shops.
Le Village Marché & Boutique: https://mcleantoday.org/talk-angela-phelps/
Fluffy Thoughts: https://mcleantoday.org/talk-lara-stuckey/
Artisan Confections: https://mcleantoday.org/meet-mclean-bailey-kasten/
Interview by Gayle Jo Carter; https://fontsbooks.com/
Gayle Jo Carter is the editor of McLean Today.
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