Savoy Bookshop & Cafe

This is a farewell blog for Westerly’s iconic Savoy Bookshop & Cafe. I was devastated when I opened that dreadful e-mail, sent out to the subscribers last Friday, announcing the store closing one week away (July 28).

Savoy was faced with the challenge of keeping afloat in the times of Amazon and online competitors. It’s an issue that many indie bookstores are fighting. It’s something that we all constantly hear about, but many of us probably never imagine our local bookstores ever closing. I never imagined Savoy would. It’s the anchor of Westerly’s downtown. This is why it’s extremely important to shop local if you don’t want to lose your local businesses.

I’m fortunate that we do have several bookshops in the area, but Savoy was my favorite. I loved the wood decor, the lighting, the black and white subway titles, pretty much the entire interior design. There is a staircase that was very Instagrammable. Two traditional wooden ladders near the bookshelves. This bookshop was very photogenic.

I am a huge book lover. This bookshop was magical. It was cozy with several couches or tables to sit at. The pups and kiddos enjoyed the fairy doors. When you open the door, you can peek inside and see fairies. The kiddos also would write letters to them.

This is why whenever I read any books that mentions a dreamy bookshop, I always visualize Savoy. Savoy is THE bookstore. I hold so many fond memories of visiting - especially when I went bookstore hopping for my birthday, brining my pup there, all the visits during winters to break my cabin fever and many more. Savoy did a poll on their social media where people shared their memories - it’s amazing how much memories and events have happened in that little bookstore.

It’ll always be a special place in many of our hearts. I will miss the new books smell, wandering through the shelves, the friendly booksellers who were always helpful, and everything about Savoy Bookshop and Cafe.