According to owner Cristy Burns, the front half of the store will be devoted to books and hand-crafted, locally made gift items, while the back half of the store will be a "modern-day speakeasy" serving comfort food, coffee, beer, wine, and more.

Burns reported to Shelf Awareness that her book inventory will consist of "most categories you would find in a large bookstore," with a particular focus on children's books and work by local writers. Her plans for non-book and gift items include things like soaps, lotions and other bath products, along with throw pillows, tote bags, and T-shirts, as well as wine glasses, locally farmed honey and seasonal peanut brittle.

In the speakeasy half of the store, which Burns plans to make accessible through a door hidden behind a large picture, she will serve dishes like alfredo pasta, baked ziti, and cheese and olive platters to go with her selection of wines and beers. And even though the entrance will be hidden, customers will be able to go freely from one side of the store to the other.

Burns plans to host frequent events, using both the bookstore and the speakeasy. In the former, she'll have story-time events for children along with traditional author events, while in the latter she'll have live music, trivia nights, murder mysteries, and more. She is also partnering with a travel company called Directions, Saint Louis to offer guided tours throughout the year. The first tour is scheduled to go to Napa Valley in May.

A lifelong book lover, Burns explained that she began to seriously consider opening a store of her own after the town's only bookstore, a Hastings, closed down. She added: "This is a dream come true for me and I cannot wait to bring a bookstore back to Paris and see people wandering amongst the shelves or relaxing and reading with a glass of wine."

129 S Main St, Paris, Texas

http://www.theblindpigparis.com