When reading a book, it all starts with the first chapter. For Sophia Maoli, it’s the story of her dream. In December of 2023, she opened the doors to Chapter One, an independent bookstore in her hometown of Mendham.
“Everyone is so happy to have a bookstore here again,” she says. “I had a customer come in and tell me how she used to shop at the previous bookstore as a kid, and now she’s coming to this bookstore and bringing her own child.”
While the store is cozy, it’s also very modern and bright. “My big thing was that I wanted it to feel new and clean, so there are a lot of whites happening in the store. The walls are light and the shelves are white because I wanted the books to really pop off the shelves.”
Instead of aisles of books, which can feel cramped, the shelves border the walls, so it’s easy to find the perfect book. The kids' area has comfortable seating with small chairs and a rug, and a bunch of stuffed animals for kids to cuddle. Many want to take them home, which is an option because they’re all for sale.
Along with books from in-demand authors like Kristen Hannah and James Patterson, she has a nice array of local authors. “When I choose which books to order, I try to feed off what the community is asking for when they come in,” she says. She also has subscriptions to websites with the best sellers and what is predicted to be a hot book in the upcoming months. “My booksellers also stay very up to date with popular books.”
Sophia enjoys bringing in really cool authors like New Jersey native Harlan Coben and Jesse Watters from FOX News. “Recently, we had [actor] Keenan Thompson come in to sign his memoir, When I Was Your Age. He was so nice and was great with everyone who came in.” The store also has a shelf full of previously signed books for purchase, which is a big hit.
People can also join three book clubs. One is the Romantasy Book Club, which she runs, and it’s all romance and fantasy books. Another is called the Anything Goes Book Club, which encompasses all genres. The Silent Book Club, where people can bring in their book of choice and then read silently for an hour, allows for companionship while pursuing what is usually a solitary hobby. At the end of each book club session, participants get 10% off their purchases that night.
Customers love taking part in these as well as other events. In May, she had a cartoonist visit and teach people how to draw, and plans are in the works for more fun events this summer.
In addition to great books and events, Sophia offers an incredible array of curated merchandise. “There's a local company called Summer Love Designs, and we sell a lot of their jewelry. We also carry Little Words Project®, puzzles, journals, bookmarks, notebooks, and kids' toys.” Many of these have a book theme, such as stickers that amusingly state, “What happens in book club stays in book club.” There are also some hair accessories and greeting cards, so it’s a one-stop shop for gifts. Of course, holiday-themed items are always in demand, including Christmas ornaments and menorah candles, Valentine’s Day items, Mother’s and Father’s Day gifts, teacher gifts, and graduation items.
Chapter One has a welcoming atmosphere with employees who are knowledgeable, avid readers capable of offering helpful recommendations for customers and their family and friends. Speaking of family, she’s fortunate to have a lot of help with the business. Her father, Tom Maoli, her mother, Stephanie Caravela, and her stepfather, Rick Pina, actively support her endeavor.
Sophia, who is also an actress, singer, and dancer, hopes to one day open many more chapters, with a Chapter Two, Chapter Three, and so on. Since she loves baking, she also aspires to one day include a bakery on site.
“My goal in the future is to be the biggest independent bookstore in the country and be the place that people want to come to because they visited or saw it on TikTok or Instagram,” she says.
Sophia wants to show people why buying books at a local, independent bookstore is much better than ordering books online or going to one of those large commercial bookstores. So, come visit Chapter One, get a personalized experience, and live your best story while you browse, converse with staff, and meet others. You may even get to pet her little dog Lulu, who sometimes visits.
ChapterBookStores.com
@ChapterOneMendham