Second Act
Two former employees of Providence ’ s beloved Cellar Stories strike out on their own , keeping their bookshop roots in mind . BY DANA LAVERTY
W
hen Cellar Stories closed in January 2023 after four decades in business , hundreds of bookish souls visited the shop to say farewell and perhaps buy just one last book . Now , former employees Victoria Forsberg-Lary and Justine Johnson have opened a store of their own — the aptly named Small Volume — with a good chunk of Cellar Stories ’ inventory just across the highway on Westminster Street .
When longtime owner Mike Chandley ’ s family decided to close Cellar Stories “ we were OK with that ,” says Forsberg-Lary . “ We had been thinking about what we wanted to do and thought it might be fun to keep selling books .”
The two met at Chandley ’ s funeral in 2018 . Johnson , who had worked at the store in the early 2000s , offered to help out Forsberg- Lary . The pair culled through two entire floors of books , sold some things — like an original Star Wars poster — online and brought the rest to Small Volume .
They stock an eclectic mix of titles , with a focus on female authors , books about women and underrepresented authors — anything from “ Star Trek ” fan fiction written by women to tomes on Rhode Island botany and pint-size titles that fit in an old cassette holder ( yes , also brought over from Cellar Stories ).
In fact , most of the shelves are from Cellar Stories , as well , along with an old Providence Phoenix ( RIP ) rack stuffed with old copies of the tabloid and its predecessor , the NewPaper .
The booksellers opened the store in the fall . Right now , they ’ re
Victoria Forsberg-Lary , left , and Justine Johnson inside Small Volume . mostly selling online , but hope to welcome browsers soon by appointment . They think Chandley would be proud of their venture , but maybe a little wistful about their selective book-buying measures .
“ He was always , always getting more and more stock no matter what ,” says Johnson , who estimates the pair sifted through 200,000 books when Cellar Stories closed . “ After he passed away , we didn ’ t buy any new stock . Ever .”
But some things , as always , stay the same . The pair learned so much from Chandley as a boss and mentor . He loved books , he loved his customers and he loved his employees , many of whom stayed on for decades . ( Forsberg-Lary started in 2014 and worked straight through to the store ’ s closing .) He allowed Johnson to bring her young daughter to work on countless occasions , something she was always grateful for . And now , two decades later , she has another little girl , one whom she brings to another book-filled wonderland — this time her own — located just up a short staircase in the capital city . SHOP FOR : Wonderfully titled books like the circa-1838 The American Frugal Housewife , Dedicated to Those Who Are Not Ashamed of Economy . DON ’ T MISS : The colorful selection of pulp fiction paperbacks , with gems like Tainted Wife and Back-Country Wench . 741 Westminster St ., smallvolumebooks . com
Barrington Books
BARRINGTON Established as the Little Professor in 1986 , Barrington Books has transformed into a welcoming community hub . This locally owned independent bookstore carries an extensive selection of books , audiobooks , games , puzzles , crafts , greeting cards and gifts for all ages . With a focus on customer satisfaction , recent renovations aim to help enhance the overall shopping experience . The store offers year-round complimentary gift wrapping and live music during the holi- day season . Join a book club meeting , attend community events or just wander through the stacks to find your new favorite read . STAFF FAVORITES : The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo , The Martian , The Midnight Library , To Kill a Mockingbird and other top-rated books . DON ’ T MISS : Children ’ s story time every Thursday at 10 a . m ., featuring singing , coloring and a new book each week . 184 County Rd ., Barrington , 245-7925 , barrington books . com
42 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l JANUARY 2024