On Oct. 18, a new bookstore, Beyond the Book, A Literary Experience, opened in downtown Homewood. 

The cozy space features a unique design specialized to host a variety of events with a built-in coffee bar and professional recording studio. Some of these events range from book club gatherings, book signings, workshops, weekly chess club events and women’s journaling circles. 

“I’ve always wanted to have a bookstore. I grew up in a bookstore. I had written out a business plan and at the top of the year, I decided this was something I wanted to do now. I didn’t want to wait until I was 60 years old; I wanted to have a space for community with a focus on literature, and a bookstore just offers all of that,” shared founder and president Dr. Tenia Davis. Davis has experience in human resources and leadership development for companies like Harpo Productions, Johnson Publishing Co. and HBR Consulting. 

  Davis has found a lot of satisfaction in watching the community come together. “It’s nice just to see people engaged and staying around to talk to each other, especially coming out of the pandemic where people were isolated and they’re wanting to connect again,” commented Davis. 

The former corporate executive is no stranger to the area and was excited to join the flourishing businesses Homewood has to offer. 

“I raised my kids in Flossmoor and I just think it’s an amazing community with a lot to offer,” shared Davis. “I think every independent business is unique and I really see myself as an add-on rather than a competitor. I don’t look at it as ‘What do I offer that’s better or more than?’ I see it as a plus to what’s already here.”

On Nov. 20, Beyond the Book held a book signing with creative writing teacher Sahar Mustafah for “The Slightest Green,” her newly released novel depicting a multi-generational story about Palestinian-American nurse Intisar returning to her family’s ancestral land upon the request of her dying father. 

“It was a lovely evening with a full house,” said Mustafah. “It was a combination of my wonderful colleagues and friends from the different H-F departments, a beloved retired teacher, parents of former students and even members of my immediate community who traveled to Homewood to be a part of the night.” 

Mustafah found out about the new bookstore from a student in her creative writing class and had been anticipating connecting.

Her first novel, “The Beauty of Your Face,” dropped shortly before the pandemic hit, leaving her with very little opportunity to connect personally with readers. 

“I was so excited to get that chance with this book, to meet the readership and talk about my writing experiences and journey not only with friends, family and colleagues but an audience of my local community that I haven’t gotten to connect with yet,” said Mustafah. 

Davis shared that a customer of the bookstore had called the environment one reminiscent of the TV show “Cheers.” The 1982 sitcom centers around a group who hang out at a local bar to escape the trials of their everyday lives. 

 “I just loved that comparison because I want this to be a place where everyone is welcome and included and everybody knows their name. I want folks to come in and meet someone new or run into someone they haven’t seen in a while and find a good book,” said Davis.