Ren Rice turned a longtime dream into reality with The Romance Era Bookshop, a cozy haven for romance lovers in Vancouver. Encouraged by a push from her therapist, Ren leaped and pursued what she’d always wanted: her own bookstore. She started small with pop-up markets, but her passion quickly grew into a permanent space. In less than a year, The Romance Era has already become a beloved community spot. Ren’s vision was simple — no judgment, just a welcoming place for people to explore romance books. Today, the store is thriving, bringing people together in a shared love for the genre.
Opening a bookstore is a major decision and can take a lot of time and money. What led you to open your store? Did you feel that your area needed one?
I was pushed by my therapist to pursue what was essentially a childhood dream. For lack of better words, I was told it was stupid to wait until retirement and that no time would be the “right time.” Needless to say, I took her advice. I didn’t really think about the need for one. I just knew I wanted to do it, and since I lived here, it would be here, haha. I started out as a pop-up doing markets for about 3-4 months before the opportunity to have a physical location popped up. I have been open for less than a year, and I think Vancouver has really benefitted from the little community I have built.
Bookselling can introduce you to people from all walks of life. What do you think is the most important or rewarding aspect of being a bookseller?
Honestly, it’s just being able to provide a safe space for those said people to come in and talk about a genre that is both popular and looked down upon with like-minded people. My first rule is “no yucking yums” and I think that helps people feel comfortable coming in and shopping and talking to me (a literal stranger to most) about everything they like about Romance.
What was the hardest part about opening your own bookstore? How did you overcome the obstacles you faced with that challenge?
It was that I was splitting my time between my day job and the bookstore. I worked three days at one, had one day off, and worked three days at the bookstore. It was brutal. I hated it. I knew that the only option would be to quit my job, but that’s a HUGE leap to take, having only been in business for a year and some change and having a physical location for 10 months. As of August 2024, I am now a full-time bookseller. We’ll see how it goes!
How do you curate your store’s selection to reflect the unique tastes and interests of your community? Can you share a story about a book that unexpectedly resonated with your customers?
Since I am a used bookstore, a lot of my inventory comes from either me finding them in the wild or donations from the community. I tend to try to curate it based on not JUST popularity with current or recent tiles and authors but on nostalgia too (I am a huge Twilight fan, and my rule is “see Twilight, buy Twilight,” so even if I have three copies of New Moon, if I see another second-hand I get it for the shop haha). I also know that a lot of my community are female-presenting who love smut and what I like to call “Men With Red Flags,” so I love to have books like that on display for anyone and everyone who wants them. A book that unexpectedly resonated with my customers was Praise by Sara Cate. I picked it for my book club and because of what it’s about, I knew they would like it but not love it as much as they actually did. And because they loved it, we have continued the series, reading a new book from the series every other month. It has helped folx open up to their partners about what they might enjoy and might want to explore. It also brings up a lot of fun conversations amongst the group who are primarily regulars!
Owning a bookstore often blurs the lines between work and personal life. How do you manage to maintain a healthy work-life balance?
Now that I am full-time, that’s going to be a lot easier as I only have one job to maintain. I still give myself two days off. I still make time for friends and I have plans to pick up hobbies again. The only downside is reading. I used to read a lot, but now not so much. I think it’s because I was busy moving house and moving shop locations and then working both I just lost interest. I hope to be able to get back into it soon!
If you could collaborate with any author, artist, or community organization, who would it be and why?
I would LOVE to partner with the Portland-based Prose Before Bros. They’ve done an amazing job building a BIPOC community of readers, and they do really fun stuff around the city with their community.
In an increasingly digital world, how do you create a tangible, inviting experience for customers to explore and discover books? What role does the physical bookstore play in fostering a sense of community?
I always try to keep events and my collaborations with other local small businesses fresh. I love to have something new every weekend, if possible, to keep people coming into the store. I also have book clubs and allow other people to come in once or twice a month to talk about books with other people. Even when it’s a slow day, I am making sure people know that the space is open even to use a working space. I have tables outside and inside for people to bring their laptops or non-messy crafts into work.
If someone is unable to visit their local bookstore, how else can they support stores like yours?
They can shop online at www.theromanceerabooks.com!
Ren Rice’s journey proves that following a dream can lead to something truly impactful. The Romance Era Bookshop is now more than just a place to buy books — it’s a warm, inviting community. Through passion and dedication, Ren has created a space where romance readers feel seen, valued, and inspired.
Wanna check out other black-owned bookstores? Check out this article.
Be sure to browse our Bookstr Book Club – Curated Reads from the Bookstr Team bookshelf on Bookshop.org for more recommendations!
