Readers and sweet treat lovers unite for the Bookstore Bakery, which will arrive in West Chester at 145 W. Gay Street. Jonathan and his girlfriend Jessica took both of their passions and combined them to make the business of their dreams.

Jonathan, who graduated with an English degree from Brooklyn College, met Jessica while attending classes as she was studying at The Culinary Institute of America. With Jessica as a pastry chef, the two plan to put their love for books and baking to good use.

After they finished their education in New York, Jonathan moved them back to West Chester, where he had lived for 10 years. With their strengths in each hand, the next step seemed to be the Bookstore Bakery.

“It’s a passion project that takes an English major and a baker to work,” said Jonathan. “We’re learning as we go since this is our first business, but we couldn’t be more excited to bring a bookstore to the borough.”

As the only two people running the business, the couple plans to start slow with as many genres and books as they can fit in the small space. He has a few bookcases to begin but looks forward to expanding the collection once he gets a taste for the books that West Chester hungers for.

For the bakery, Jessica will start by selling drinks and gradually moving to pastries and other delights. Future menu items include hot chocolate, homemade chai, and coffee, as well as baked goods such as banana bread, gluten-free creme brûlée, muffins, and cookies.

As for decor, they want to add plenty of local art on the walls and “anything to make it cozy. But cozy doesn’t come overnight,” he joked.

Jonathan hopes the Bookstore Bakery will become of symbol of West Chester, not only for tourists to visit, but for the community to enjoy. “Stop by and tell us what you want to read,” he said, as locals and students are who they want to provide for.

The two are aiming for a soft opening at the end of the month to give people a look, and a grand opening somewhere in the future.

“So far, everyone has been very supportive. Our friends and family have been encouraging us from the start and we couldn’t be happier with all the love,” he said.

More updates will be available on their Instagram @bookstorebakerywc.

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A French antique bookstore.