The Center for Fiction

I wanted to love this place so bad. It does great at organizing events with cool guests BUT it’s not an appealing space. The “public” sitting area is tiny and extremely uncomfortable. The caffe is beyond disappointing, limited pastry/food offers - zero vegan options - and still charging extra for non-dairy milk. If you’re looking for a third space, this is sadly not it currently. I would love to come back, and even consider a membership, when the organization gets with the times. I know it can be so much better!

Love the selection of books here and LOVE the cafe! They host a variety of events in the space so check out the website/calendar for details. Their employees pick section is really nice! Love seeing what these weirdos read. The chocolate donut from the cafe is quite literally the best donut I’ve had (or close to it) coffee is great too, and they can give you a WiFi code with purchase. Someone working there some days REALLY likes Björk - nonstop music from her and it was driving me a little crazy but it’s not like that most days.

What a wonderful bookstore! Surprise, not just fiction here! Romance, nature inspired, nonfiction and more! It looks lovely to walk around and then cruise into their Cafe. Definitely get coffee and one of those cookies! And more is a children's section for your young adult to that little newborn waiting to get their first eyes on a book, nice. Have fun!

Such toxic and abusive behavior from both staff and management at this beautiful space which is really unfortunate. I reached out for a tour of their Writers Studio which I liked (even though the person who gave me the tour had some defensive and toxic traits himself but gave it the benefit of the doubt. After the brief tour, I ordered a coffee and sat in the cafe. The girl taking orders showed her attitude when I was ordering but again gave it all the benefit of the doubt. Later on, I plug my phone in the outlet on the floor and moments later she walks over and unplugs my phone without saying anything to me and walks away. After politely asking her why and her repeatedly giving me an attitude, I ask for her manager which she said wasn't there but gave me a business card. She was so nasty, so rude, no inhumane in her responses that I just started shaking and walked over to two of her coworkers to let them know what was going on. The girl comes over and starts arguing loudly in the store and the coworkers are trying to hold her back. I get pulled aside and low and behold there was a manager on site. I told her what happened. She nodded as if she already knew this girl has been an issue. I sent an email to the cafe manager who didn't respond until the followed up some days later. I got on a Zoom call days later with both managers and I explained everything. They said they would take care of it. Days later I get an email from them saying that if there is an issue in the future, that I shouldn't involve other coworkers and that was really the gist of the email. Victim-blaming and victim-shaming. I responded that I asked for a manager first. The girl claimed no manager was on site. I was not going to sit in silence while I am harmed and I did nothing wrong in alerting others that I was being harmed. I will never ever go back to this bookstore.

Not one reason to ever go here again. Learn from my mistake and support one of the many local bookstores within walking distance. Interesting, if not overly corporate, store. I saw two workers sat behind the desk who never engaged a customer while I was there. Both were short with me and made it clear that I was an interruption and nuisance to them. Prices are somewhere around 10% - 15% higher than competitors. The whole store was 20% off when I was there, so I was happy enough to receive around 5% in savings.