A local bookstore for Dripping Springs

For Dixie Frechett, owning a bookstore was a “One day, I’ll have a bookshop” dream.

When she closed her clothing boutique in January, she said she asked herself, “What am I waiting for?” and made the decision to go for it. Across from the Whim Warehouse on RR 12, the Sunday Bookshop officially opens this week and will celebrate with a launch party on Saturday, June 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The independent bookshop will feature book club picks — a curated selection of romance, mystery and thrillers, memoirs, science fiction and fantasy — as well as cookbooks and coffee table books.

“I think book fans will find the bookstore a welcome throwback from the current way of purchasing books. During the pandemic, people returned to reading but missed the social aspect of browsing for books in a place made for that purpose,” Frechett said. “I wanted to create a nice aesthetic that reminds customers of a living room, with a great playlist in the background, that feels welcoming for book club members and others who want to browse and read for a while.”

The bookstore is housed in a 1905 Victorian-style building that was moved in 2016 from Rainey Street in Austin. It features a ramp, front and back outdoor porches with seating and ample parking under centuryold oaks. The interior’s three main rooms are serenely furnished with chairs, sofas and custom- made bookcases.

An avid reader since childhood, Frechett was born and raised in Dripping Springs, and after owning a boutique in the same location for seven and a half years, she feels she understands what locals like and dislike.

“Our selection is “genre fluid,” she said, “which means we have something for everyone here.”

Visitors to the launch party can browse small home décor items and fine paper goods, along with the books, while they enjoy custom cookies and participate in a drawing for gifts.

The Sunday Bookshop is located at 28108 RR 12. Regular hours will be Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.