Bookery adds new cafe and events to Manchester Elm Street

The Bookery at 844 Elm Street is expanding its role in Manchester beyond selling books.

A new cafe will open in mid-November to replace Critical Mass, a separate business that previously occupied the space. The new operation will be run by Bookery staff and will focus on grab-and-go items such as salads, sandwiches, and soups. Coffee and vegan options will also be available. Event coordinator Alex Pellerin said she heard rumors about a soft-serve machine but did not confirm if it would be installed.

Pellerin joined the staff last year after working as a residence hall director at the University of New Hampshire and the University of Maine. She took over events in March. She views the store as a place for human connection in an age of technology. She said the need for interaction has been removed in some ways due to advancements in technology.

The store hosts regular events to bring people together. Word Search, an open mic night, takes place on the second Wednesday of every month. It is hosted by the NAV Arts collective and features poetry, writing, music, and performance. Pellerin noted that participants can share anything, including short stories or original songs.

Upcoming events are scheduled for the coming weeks. On Saturday, Nov. 7, staff will read from Ellen L. Ramsey’s A Book for Bear at 11:30 a.m. This is followed by a craft activity. At the same hour, Londonderry author William Graser will host a signing for his books Veterans’ Reflections: History Preserved and Smell the Gunpowder: The Land of the Morning Calm. At 6 p.m. on the same day, A.P. Walton will read from and discuss Letters of a Poet Dying: The Selected Correspondence of Frank Stanford.

Music will feature prominently on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28. The NH Ukeladies, an all-female ukulele group, will perform later in the day. Local authors will staff tables throughout the store. The event will include giveaways and holiday discounts.

Pellerin helped stage the launch of Celia Botto’s children’s book The Ostrich Needs a Lift, which drew about 80 people. The store also held a Dungeon Crawler Carl-themed event during Granite State Comic Con weekend. That event paired in-store games with a bar crawl along Elm Street. The Bookery hopes to make that event a yearly tradition.

Staff members hand-draw wrappers for Blind Date With a Book and write teaser blurbs. A staff picks wall and a suggestion box for customer recommendations are available in the store. A monthly book club polls members on future selections. A romance and romantasy book club run by a staff member will start next year. Pellerin is also working with local poets and the Slam Free or Die crew to bring in more readings and is planning monthly drop-in art sessions for the new year.