This Massachusetts Bookstore With A Cozy Cafe Is The Kind Of Spot Local Book Lovers Dream About
Picture a Massachusetts bookstore where books seem to float overhead, reclaimed wood adds warmth, and a café sits only a few steps away from shelves filled with stories. It sounds a little whimsical because it is.
Created by Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney and his wife Julie, the space combines an independent bookstore, café, and event venue under one roof.
Flying books and brooms hang above, high ceilings make the room feel open, and comfortable seating gives readers an excuse to linger longer than planned.
The café serves coffee, tea, and treats, while the bookstore regularly hosts author events, storytimes, and other community gatherings upstairs.
Come for a new read, stay for the atmosphere, and do not be surprised if the flying books overhead steal a little attention too.
The Story Starts With A Famous Author And A Big Idea
Jeff Kinney sold millions of copies of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Then he put that success into a bookstore in his own town.
An Unlikely Story opened in May 2015. Kinney and his wife, Julie, dreamed it up together.
The idea was not about profit or fame. They wanted downtown Plainville to have a gathering place again.
Kinney has said he hoped children would feel the same spark he felt as a young reader. That goal shows up everywhere inside the store.
Signed Wimpy Kid copies sit on the shelves, and Greg Heffley makes a few playful appearances. Yet nothing feels like a theme park.
The Wimpy Kid touches are tasteful rather than loud. Readers who have never opened one of the books still feel at home.
Staff members greet you without pushing anything on you. They answer questions, then let you wander at your own speed.
Fun detail worth knowing: the shop name comes from the improbable idea itself. Opening an independent bookstore in a small town really was an unlikely story.
That name has aged beautifully. A decade later, the place is a fixture.
A Piece Of Local History Is Built Right Into The Floor
Long before shelves lined these walls, the same corner held Falk’s Market. That landmark dated back to the years before the Civil War.
Over the decades, the building at 111 South Street in Plainville, Massachusetts wore many hats. It served as a general store, a pharmacy, a tearoom, and a restaurant.
Age eventually caught up with the original structure. Engineers found it could not be saved.
Rather than build something generic, the Kinneys reconstructed a Federal Wharf-style building on the spot. Reclaimed wood and salvaged materials went into the new frame.
The result feels old in the best possible way. Beams and boards carry marks that no factory could fake.
Vintage signs hang throughout the rooms, nodding to the businesses that came before. Guests often spend a few minutes just reading the walls.
Here is a charming piece of trivia. The store logo shows an elephant holding a book.
That elephant honors a circus prize elephant that once stood in the window of the old market. Locals of a certain age still remember it.
Blue and gold colors appear throughout the space. Those shades were chosen as a tribute to Jeff Kinney’s father.
Small choices like that give the building real warmth.
Look Up And You Will Spot Flying Books
Most shoppers keep their eyes on shelves. In this store, the ceiling steals the show.
Open books hang overhead with their pages spread like wings. From below, they look like a flock of paper birds mid-flight.
Brooms float up there too, angled as if a race just ended. The effect makes people stop and grin.
Children point at them immediately. Adults usually take a photograph and then keep staring.
High ceilings give the whole display room to breathe. Nothing feels crowded or cluttered.
Details continue in unexpected corners. Even the restrooms carry the decorative theme, which is a rare thing to praise about a bathroom.
Displays on the floor are arranged with the same care. Tables are grouped by theme instead of dumped by publisher.
Staff recommendation cards sit tucked beside spines. Handwritten notes explain why a particular title earned a spot.
Shelves are clearly labeled by genre, so browsing does not require a treasure map. You can find the section you want in seconds.
An Unlikely Story rewards slow wandering. Ten minutes of looking around usually turns into an hour.
Bring a camera, and bring patience. The ceiling alone is worth the drive.
The Shelves Make Room For Every Kind Of Reading Taste
Small stores sometimes mean small choices. That is not the case here.
Bestsellers share space with contemporary fiction and books by Massachusetts authors. The mix feels thoughtful rather than random.
Young readers get serious attention. Children’s, teen, and graphic novel sections take up generous real estate.
Popular series line those shelves, from Dog Man to Magic Tree House. Signed Wimpy Kid copies have their own display.
Little ones have a reading spot in the back. Parents can browse while children flip through picture books.
Grown-up readers are not an afterthought. Nature writing, history, civics, and current nonfiction all get shelf space.
Cookbooks deserve a special mention. The selection is tempting enough to change your dinner plans.
Special orders are part of the service. Staff can track down hard-to-find titles, including books published overseas.
Because the collection is curated rather than endless, discovery happens fast. Many people find something interesting within the first few minutes.
A free rewards program exists for regulars. A newsletter keeps subscribers current on new arrivals and upcoming happenings.
Gifts, games, puzzles, cards, and stationery round out the inventory. Birthday shopping becomes surprisingly easy.
The Cafe Steeps Its Chai For Twelve Hours
Twelve hours. That is how long the house chai steeps before it reaches a cup.
Anise, cardamom seeds, and cinnamon sticks go into the pot along with other spices. The aroma drifts through the first floor most mornings.
Coffee here holds its own against city cafes. Espresso drinks arrive properly made, not rushed.
Pastries are baked fresh, and wheat-free options are part of the daily lineup. That thoughtfulness matters to plenty of guests.
Lunch runs every day of the week. The caprese panini is a standout, pressed warm and packed with flavor.
At certain gatherings, a turkey chili appears on the menu. Regulars watch for it.
Ingredients come from close to home. Fresh greens and vegetables arrive from Crystal Spring Farm, a Plainville farm just down the road.
Seasonal menus shift with what that farm harvests. Summer plates look different from November plates.
Seating fills up around midday, especially on weekends. Arriving before noon or after one usually solves that.
The cafe and kitchen keep slightly shorter hours than the bookstore itself. Checking ahead saves disappointment if lunch is the main goal.
Coffee plus a new paperback remains an unbeatable pairing.
The Second Story Gives You A Reason To Stay A Little Longer
Climb the staircase and the pace changes. Upstairs, the noise of the register fades away.
The space is called Second Story, which is exactly the kind of pun a bookstore should make. It doubles as seating and as an event room.
Wooden tables and chairs fill part of the floor. Big soft couches and squashy armchairs take the rest.
Families have been known to carry a whole stack of books up there. Reading first chapters helps decide which ones come home.
Downstairs holds a few plush armchairs too. Those get claimed quickly on cold afternoons.
Free wifi makes the upstairs a decent workspace. Laptop users can settle in without anyone hovering.
Outlets are limited, so charge your device before arriving. A full battery prevents a short stay.
During November and December, Second Story transforms into a holiday market. It returns to event use each January. That flexibility keeps the room feeling fresh. Something different is usually happening up there.
Natural light and tall ceilings make the space feel open rather than cramped. Hours slip by easily.
An Unlikely Story understands that browsing is only half the pleasure. Sitting down is the other half.
Big-Name Authors Show Up In A Small Town
Suburban Massachusetts is not where you expect a packed author signing. Plainville breaks that rule regularly.
The event calendar stays busy year-round. Author readings and signings anchor the schedule.
Workshops appear often, covering writing and creative skills. Craft classes give hands-on options.
Family trivia nights run under the name Unlikely Trivia. Teams of all ages compete without much pressure.
Story times bring young children in during quieter hours. Open mic nights hand the microphone to anyone brave enough.
Virtual events extend the reach beyond town limits. People who cannot travel still join in.
The upstairs room handles crowds smoothly. Chairs get arranged, the microphone gets set, and things start close to on time.
Staff manage logistics without fuss. Lines move, books get signed, and nobody feels rushed out the door.
Checking the website before making the trip is smart. The calendar changes weekly and popular events fill fast.
Some gatherings require tickets or a book purchase. Details are posted in advance.
Events are a big reason An Unlikely Story became a community cornerstone. Books draw people in, and programming keeps them coming back.
A signed copy makes a fine souvenir.
Plan Ahead Before You Spend An Afternoon Browsing
Getting here is refreshingly simple. The address is 111 South Street in Plainville, Massachusetts, right in the middle of downtown.
Doors open at 10:00 AM every day. Monday through Saturday the store stays open until 8:00 PM.
Sunday hours run until 6:00 PM. The cafe and kitchen close a bit earlier than the bookshop.
Parking behind the building fills quickly on Saturdays. A large free lot sits across the street as backup.
Weekday mornings tend to be the calmest stretch. Weekend afternoons buzz with families and browsers.
Plainville sits near the Rhode Island border, making the trip easy from Providence or Boston suburbs. Route 1 puts you close.
Phone the store at 508-699-0244 with questions about stock or events. Staff answer quickly and helpfully.
Budget more time than you think you need. Two hours disappears without effort between shelves, coffee, and the upstairs couches.
Bringing children? The back reading nook keeps them happily occupied.
Cash is not required anywhere. Cards work throughout the store and cafe. The rewards program costs nothing to join. Frequent shoppers see the benefit fast.
Comfortable shoes help, since standing and browsing go hand in hand.
Downtown Plainville Keeps Growing Around It
One building changed the mood of an entire downtown. That is not an exaggeration in Plainville. Before 2015, the corner sat empty and uncertain. Now it anchors the town center.
Jeff and Julie Kinney did not stop with a bookstore. They have been working on further revitalization plans nearby.
Their goals include adding a restaurant to the area. A food and beverage garden is also part of the vision.
Those additions would give the neighborhood more reasons to gather. Foot traffic helps every business on the block.
The bookstore already functions as a meeting point. People run into neighbors between the shelves without planning it.
Staff and regulars often know each other by name. That familiarity gives the room an easy rhythm.
A sign inside reads characters welcome. It captures the spirit exactly.
Massachusetts has no shortage of good independent bookshops. Few combine history, food, events, and design this thoroughly.
An Unlikely Story earned its reputation through consistency rather than gimmicks. Ten years in, the standard has held.
If a day trip is on your list, put this one near the top. Bring an empty tote bag and an appetite.