Earlier this year, Bookstore Bakery opened its doors in downtown West Chester and the community couldn’t be more excited! Combining a love of reading and baking, owners Jonathan and Jessica have created the perfect pairing for the residents of West Chester.
Nestled along Gay Street, this cozy shop beckons for passersby to step inside. With books on display in the window and the sidewalk chalkboard marquee telling customers what specials await in the bakery, Bookstore Bakery is the perfect way to spend some time in the borough. This shop is something that has been a dream of Jonathan and Jessica’s for a while.
The couple previously lived in New York where Jonathan studied poetry at Brooklyn College and Jessica attended the Culinary Institute of America to become a pastry chef. They had both worked in the service industry for their whole careers; however, a short stint in the office world scared them away. They moved to West Chester and never looked back.
“The idea didn’t take too much thought and it was probably our lack of creativity that led us to open Bookstore Bakery,” said Jonathan. “We stuck to what we know. This isn’t only a dream job; it is what we are good at.”
Jessica’s strength as a pastry chef is showcased in the treats that await customers each day. The store is known for its Iced Chai and Portuguese Egg Tarts, but customers will also find on rotation desserts such as strawberry creme puffs, muffins, cookies, scones, cheesecakes, and creme brûlée. There are gluten-free and vegan options available as well. In fact, their vegan banana muffins are a crowd favorite!
Now that fall has arrived, you can expect to find apple muffins, ginger cookies, banana pudding, and pumpkin cheesecake in the bakery rotation. These items are perfect to ‘grab and go’ to eat at home while you’re curled up with your new book.
“Our cozy space is small and intended for takeout. However, it is not uncommon for our guests to stick around and chat. We want our guests to feel like family. It is totally okay to come in to just browse and have a friendly conversation,” said Jonathan.
Books of every genre line the shelves with new books arriving weekly. It’s not uncommon to find a signed copy of a book from local authors who stop by the shop to say hi. If there is a book you are looking for, but it isn’t in stock, simply ask Jonathan to order it for you. While you’re in the store, make sure to check out the poetry and cookbook sections, which happen to be curated by the resident chef and poet!
Their space might be quaint but that doesn’t mean that they can’t put on a big show. Bookstore Bakery partners with local organizations to host author readings and signings. Not only do they provide the books, but they also provide the baked goods too. It’s a great way to have a one-stop shop provide everything for your event.
Speaking of events, if you have a special event on the horizon, ask Jessica to cater it for you. They are now doing food orders, including delicious birthday cakes.
“Our cakes are homemade from scratch,” said Jonathan. “We don’t use preservatives, artificial flavors, or artificial colors. All of our decorations are done with natural dyes.”
Jessica and Jonathan are glad to be part of the vibrant community of West Chester and enjoy meeting new residents daily and seeing old friends too. They love getting to know everyone and their friendliness upon first meeting them is genuine!
“West Chester is our home. We love being able to walk to work and seeing our neighbors in our shop looking for a bite to eat,” said Jonathan.
Make a point to stop by the Bookstore Bakery when you’re downtown next. In fact, we suggest making a special trip just to meet Jonathan and Jessica. If you’re not sure what type of book you’re looking for, Jonathan will happily offer a few suggestions and Jessica is sure to have a tasty treat waiting for you!
Bookstore Bakery is open Tuesday through Sunday 8 am - 4 pm. Follow them on Instagram at bookstorebakerywc to stay up to date with their newest treats and reads. Bookstore Bakery is located at 145 W. Gay Street and they can be reached at 484-354-2131.
This isn’t only a dream job; it is what we are good at.