There’s a new place to meet friends, browse books, and dream to your heart's content in Fort Worth. A charming independent bookstore located on the historic Bluebonnet Circle near TCU opened its doors in September, and for owner Dana St. Germain, Bluebonnet Books & Wine is a longtime dream come true.
Although Dana’s career was in logistics for a trucking company, she’s a bookworm at her core, and Bluebonnet Books & Wine is a passion project turned business. “My mother was a librarian, and I’ve always loved going to bookstores. And whenever we’ve traveled, my kids (ages 11 and 8) and I would find the local bookstore. We’d pick out features we like and say, ‘Oh, when we have a bookstore, we’ll have a cozy nook, we’ll have a shop dog,’” says St. Germain.
Once you step into the cozy 800-square-foot space, you’ll immediately see how much love and thought St. Germain poured into every inch. It carries everything from rom-com novels to Ozzie Ozbourne biographies, cookbooks, coffee table books, and children’s books — lots and lots of children’s books. And since it’s a used bookstore, prices are incredibly reasonable, as every book costs $5, $10, or $20. Good news, parents: all the kids’ selections are just $5!
The store’s vibe is welcoming and cozy. When asked to describe what it feels like to be in Bluebonnet Books & Wine, St. Germain says, “The best compliment I’ve gotten was from a couple of friends. They came in, sat down, and said: ‘It feels like we’re in your living room.’ I wanted it to feel like you can come in, have conversations, and meet your neighbors.”
There’s a comfy sofa and chairs that surround a table perfect for book club, richly colored rugs on the ground, shelving and cupboards that feel like they belong in your grandmother’s home, and an adorable kids’ corner with a round table, stools, and toys like Magna-Tiles, dinosaurs, coloring sheets, and of course, books to be read.
It’s clear this is a community space. St. Germain already has several family-friendly programs like Friday Friends, where sixth graders from McClean Middle School can come in once a month for a book and a scoop of ice cream every Friday. On FWISD teacher in-service days, the shop will be a place for parents to drop their kids off for engaging programming, and she has plans for day camps, book clubs for kids, and more.
And adult book clubs are already meeting at the shop. St. Germain welcomes all book lovers to gather with friends in Bluebonnet Books & Wine. She’s currently partnered with Morgan’s Ice Cream and also offers goodies like sourdough bread and cookies. There are plans to offer beer and wine in the future, which makes a book club night sound even more inviting.
If you stop by and it’s a Saturday, say hi to shop dog Cleo, who, according to St. Germain, is “the sweetest little mop dog.”
Another aspect of the store that St. Germain is excited about is her “This Book Made Me Think of You” program. She explains it as a highly curated book subscription: a customer meets with her to discuss a loved one’s literary interests, and St. Germain personally selects a book each month for a year for the recipient, accompanied by a thoughtful note from the client. For St. Germain, it’s a unique connection for people who aren’t readers but love a reader.
You can find Bluebonnet Books & Wine at 3464 Bluebonnet Cir. and on Instagram @bluebonnetbookshop, where you’ll be able to hear about giveaways, new programming, and other information.