Whether patrons are seeking a new fantasy read, funky stationery, or a furry friend, Reverie Books in Southwest Austin has it all.
The independent bookstore is dedicated to social justice, community building, and youth empowerment, selling a mixture of new and used books across a variety of genres. Stormy, the shop cat, welcomes customers by the front door, and the team highlights Stormy's recommendations, including titles like "Mystical Cat Shelter" by Heather Fawcett.
Meet the owner
Local Thais Perkins took over the space that would become Reverie Books in 2021 after her friend David closed his bookstore at the same location.
“I have a special place in my heart from being a [misfit] kid in the 90s who didn’t have anywhere to go, and independent bookstores were a refuge,” Perkins said. “I wanted to recreate that.”
Prior to the pandemic, Perkins had an extensive career in education, biology and environmental science. Opening Reverie represented a synthesis of her interests and goals, from connecting over books to non-profit giving.
“I took a huge pay cut to do this, but it’s worth every minute,” Perkins said. “It’s the happiest I’ve ever been in my life ... I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of doing it.”
What’s in a name
“Reverie” means the state of being lost in dream-like thoughts, or an abstracted state of absorption. That’s what Perkins wants to evoke in her store.
“The word reverie describes what I personally feel when I walk into a bookstore, which is an expansion of the mind,” Perkins said. “It broadens my internal landscape.”
What they offer
Shoppers can purchase all things books and baubles at Reverie, from graphic novels to knick-knacks.
Merchandise includes:
- Literary-themed candles
- Board games and puzzles
- Jewelry
- Stationery
- Stickers
What’s special about it?
Reverie offers a high school internship program, where local students can learn workforce skills while earning some extra cash.
“I think one of my greatest sources of joy is watching these incredibly accomplished young people build their skill set and feel confident in their ability to work in a bookstore,” Perkins said.
Perkins said she has hired almost 10 different interns over the past few years, though the store is too small to have more than one intern at a time. Beyond providing internship opportunities, Perkins hopes Reverie is a space where kids and teenagers can feel safe to be themselves.
Looking ahead
Reverie Books will open a second, larger location off Brodie Lane in October, with enough space for three to four interns and a stage for events.
The business is currently running a fundraising campaign to help with opening costs. For those who want to lend a hand, Perkins said she plans to host a community painting day at the new location.
Looking back
One of Perkins’ favorite memories over the past five years running Reverie happened around Christmas a few years ago. She recalled two LGBTQ+ kids coming into the store, gushing over books they couldn’t buy because of their family situations.
She posted on Twitter, asking if anyone was feeling “Christmas-y” and wanting to help gift some books to the kids. Overnight, the community donated over $1,400. Using the additional money, Perkins tasked the intern at the time with creating a program to provide free books for teenagers.
“It was clear to me that they didn’t have a grown-up in their lives who would buy these books for them,” Perkins said. “I waited for them to come back around and gave them the book boxes for Christmas ... I remember they went out into the parking lot and jumped up and down and screamed.”
One more thing
Perkins thinks that everyone should read “The Overstory” by Richard Powers. The novel spans several centuries and tells the story of ancient American trees and the people connected to them.
“It’s very compassionate,” Perkins said. “It’s transcendent, even, and I think that everybody could use a little bit of that upliftingness. Especially right now.”
