Inklings Bookstore is opened and ready for all

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The newest addition in downtown Cleveland beckons all book lovers, coffee drinkers, tea enthusiasts, and those who appreciate a calm place to think or commune. Inklings Bookstore, owned and operated by Adam and Kaeli Riccardi Koenig, makes its customers feel as though they are inside of one of the books on display. From the carefully curated playlist of whimsical music to the calming colors and quiet space, the bookstore is created with those who are meant to fill it in mind. 

The Riccardi Koenigs are fond of attempting something new, Inklings Bookstore being the current invention of their imagination.

“We first had the idea on an anniversary trip. We were driving home and we had been trying to think of something to do together,” Kaeli said. “We've done quite a few things together. We were in a touring band together, had a YouTube channel together…So we were like, ‘what's next?’”

Stories have a deep root in their relationship, and a bookstore was the perfect way to express the love they share in literature.

“Stories are what brought the two of us together initially…When we met, we had so much that overlapped that we could talk about and connect on,” Kaeli said.

Adam and Kaeli’s idea for a bookstore slowly came to fruition in downtown Cleveland.

“[During] all of our travels we always would stop into the local used bookstore and…we realized after living in Cleveland for a short time, that wasn't here,” Kaeli said. “Adam pitched, ‘What if we opened a used bookstore in Cleveland?’ and immediately I was like, ‘Absolutely yes.’”

After formulating their business idea, Adam and Kaeli knew the first thing they needed was the obvious: books. The couple steadily started to collect, buy, and accept donations of used books to build up Inklings Bookstore’s inventory. 

The Riccardi Koenig’s began to generate interest for their idea 2 years ago. 

“A friend of ours suggested we do pop-ups at Ocoee Coffee, so we did four of those and we were met with great responses from people who were really excited about it and said Cleveland needed this,” Adam said.

Once the couple had ann idea for their business, they needed a name. They found revelation from all that the word “inkling” has to offer.

“We wanted…a place where you could discover something, find a treasure. A place where you could sit and think about big ideas, small ideas, [and] everything in between; where you could just be curious,” Kaeli said. “That eventually brought up the phrase, ‘What if you have an inkling of an idea?’”

While the definition of “inkling” was a part of the vision they had for their space, so was the writing group: the Inklings. 

“We're both huge fans of the Inklings — Lewis, Tolkien, Charles Williams, George MacDonald. We're getting acquainted with some of the lesser-known inklings as well. It all fit together and we tossed around that as a name for a while and it just stuck,” Kaeli said. 

Inklings Bookstore provides more for customers than used books, as there are also coffees, teas, and 100% beeswax candles for sale. Every tea and coffee blend are organic and sourced responsibility as that is another priority for the pair.

The sale of the additional products with the books felt like the natural progression toward expanding on the full image of what they imagined for Inklings Bookstore, according to Kaeli.

“When you're sitting down and reading a book, a cup of tea or coffee goes perfectly with that,” Kaeli said. 

The couple believes the location of the store is ideal and will be integral in creating a new place for the people of Cleveland to gather. 

Photo credit: Emme Lowder.

“With all of the efforts…to build up downtown, we wanted to help facilitate that. So, once we found this space, everything fell into place and we're so happy to be here and we're so thankful for the reception that [we have received],” Kaeli said. “It's been very encouraging and we really hope that we can be a place [where] people want to spend time.”

Adam and Kaeli both have visions regarding what the response to their bookstore will be.

“If you are looking for a place where you can be in community with people or think about things and slow down…this is your space,” Kaeli said. “We wanted to be…a place for the community to be in an environment that inspires interesting conversation,” Adam said.

Inklings Bookstore is located at 266 Broad St NW, in Downtown Cleveland.