The Words We Love: How Happenstance Bookshop Found Its Name
Where books meet by chance but connect with intention.
Choosing a name for a bookshop is like finding the perfect first line of a story—it has to set the tone, capture the essence, and feel just right. For us, it started with a word I absolutely fell in love with: “bookery.”
Falling in Love with “Bookery”
There’s something delightfully whimsical about bookery. It’s an unusual word, one that feels like it belongs in an old storybook or a cozy cottage filled with dusty tomes. The moment I heard it, I was convinced it was going to be our name. I adored how it sounded both charming and unexpected, as though it hinted at a place where books hold a little extra magic.
In fact, “Happenstance Bookery” was everywhere in our original plans. It appeared so many times in our 50-page business plan that I practically whispered it into existence. I loved it so much I could see it painted on the side of our book truck and written in every social media caption.
But as much as I adored it, something about “bookshop” quietly called to us.
Why We Chose “Bookshop”
Where bookery felt unusual and niche, bookshop carried a timeless familiarity. It’s a word that instantly feels like home—cozy, warm, and welcoming. It’s the kind of place where you can picture someone saying, “Oh, I discovered this at my local bookshop,” and you know exactly what they mean.
We realized that “bookshop” was a perfect reflection of our vision. At Happenstance, we want to be a gathering place for everyone:
A spot to stumble upon books that surprise and delight you.
A place where connections, conversations, and community happen naturally.
So while bookery still holds a special place in our hearts, Happenstance Bookshop felt like the truest expression of what we’re creating: a space where the joy of discovery is celebrated, and where every book feels like a chance encounter that connects with intention.
What “Happenstance” Means to Us
Of course, the name Happenstance is the other half of the story. It celebrates those moments of beautiful unpredictability—a chance meeting with a book that feels like it was waiting just for you. Whether it’s a title you’ve never heard of or a story that comes into your life at exactly the right moment, we want to make room for those moments to happen.
Happenstance Bookshop is about more than selling books; it’s about curating serendipity. It’s about building a space where stories, people, and ideas meet and connect, one page at a time.
A Name with Heart
In the end, choosing Happenstance Bookshop was like choosing a book that stays with you. It reflects who we are, what we value, and the kind of experience we want to offer: one full of warmth, curiosity, and connection.
And while we still love the sound of bookery, it remains a fun footnote in our story—one that reminds us how far we’ve come in dreaming up this little bookshop of ours.
Welcome to Happenstance Bookshop—where stories meet by chance but connect with intention.
Join the Journey
Follow along with #HappenstanceBookshop and #WhereStoriesMeet for behind-the-scenes peeks, curated recommendations, and updates as we build a bookshop full of surprises.
