Linden Marno-Ferree dreamed of opening a bookstore bar years before Chattanooga was even on her radar.
A Vermont native, Marno-Ferree worked at Harvard Book Store in Boston in the early 2000s. Just down the street was a bar she and her coworkers often visited after hours. “The idea of putting drinks and books together seemed obvious,” she says, noting that used bookstores and dive bars often share the same funky aesthetic. At the time, major players like Amazon were rapidly reshaping the bookselling landscape, forcing independent bookstores to get creative in order to stand out and stay profitable.
Beyond her love of books and literature, Marno-Ferree also felt drawn to the restaurant industry. She took her first restaurant job at 30, and was immediately struck by how mobile the industry could be—offering the freedom to live, work, and travel in new places.
That flexibility eventually led her to Chattanooga: affordable, diverse, and well suited for the hybrid concept she wanted to build. In 2018, Marno-Ferree relocated and began immersing herself in Chattanooga’s local hospitality scene, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become the Reading Room.
Through her work in the hospitality scene, and the relationships that grew from it, Marno-Ferree connected with the right people to help bring her vision to life. The Reading Room Bar officially opened on Brainerd Road in December 2024. The space feels instantly warm and inviting, lively without being loud. The bar’s personality is eclectic and a little weird, with pops of color among shelves lined floor to ceiling with books.
Marno-Ferree originally sourced many of the books from the Chattanooga Public Library, giving new life to books rotated out of circulation. Today, her dedicated book manager hunts for additions at thrift stores and estate sales. Guests are also encouraged to contribute their own gently used books—each book donated in good condition earns a credit toward a tab or a gift card. There will also be book swaps throughout the year, further reinforcing its role as both a neighborhood bar and a gathering place for readers.
The Reading Room is designed for lingering, not rushing. Guests are invited to browse with a drink in hand. Many do just that—ordering a cocktail, coffee, or tea, settling into a chair, and staying awhile to read.
Marno-Ferree drew on her bartending experience to shape a lineup that feels balanced, accessible, and inventive. “We have fun with the prep,” she says. “We play with botanicals, flavor combinations, and pull inspiration from other cuisines, herbs, and spices.” The result is an intriguing mix of cocktails, mocktails, interesting wines and craft beers, and a strong selection of teas and coffee drinks. “We want to make it easy for people to come, whoever you are, whoever you’re with,” Marno-Ferree says.
That philosophy has shaped the bar’s clientele in ways both expected and surprising. The Reading Room has become a welcoming space for a wide range of communities, including alternative and creative crowds that naturally found their way there. It’s equally suited for solo visits or small groups; artists, readers, industry folks, and neighbors all share the space comfortably.
Marno-Ferree is also intentional about the bar’s role within its Brainerd neighborhood. While the area can feel unconventional, she’s encouraged by how readily people have embraced it, and by the growing number of new businesses moving in this year.
“We’re trying to create a real community where you can come for the whole day,” she says. “You can have your own experiences at different businesses, but always keep it creative and a little weird—whatever that means for you.”