Chestnut Hill, MA Hummingbird Books, a new independent and female owned bookstore, will open this spring at The Street Chestnut Hill. A welcoming community destination for finding the latest bestsellers alongside the classics, Hummingbird Books will offer an extensive collection of adult and children’s books that showcases a mix of local and widely beloved authors. In addition to its book selection, Hummingbird Books will offer a variety of games, giftable items, candy, and stationery, as well as in-store programming including story times, book signings, and more.
Founded by Boston area native Wendy Dodson, with local team members Andrea Chiang, Clarissa Murphy, and Rachel Walerius, Hummingbird Books is Wendy’s first bookstore in the Boston area. She is also the owner of the famous Valley Bookstore in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where Wendy has been inspiring and connecting its community through books for over eight years. Wendy is now looking forward to returning home, bringing her passion for books and her vision for a neighborhood bookstore to The Street, located just a few blocks away from her family.
Upon entering Hummingbird Books, guests will be delighted by an endless range of titles just waiting to be discovered among the shop’s thoughtfully curated displays. A beautiful custom tree installation named The Great Oak Tree will serve as a gathering space for families and in-store programming, as well as a place for guests to spend the day getting lost in a great book.
“Independent bookstores have become a place where community ties are strengthened; something we need more of in our online world. To this end, we’ll be hosting book events – especially ones to support local authors. Hummingbird Books will be a magical place where children discover a love of reading and how reading connects us to others as we search for ideas, wisdom, or just a break from reality. The shop has also given me the opportunity to execute a vision with two exceptional, local women. They are my partners in Hummingbird Books, and I love being part of an all-female, all-star entrepreneurial team,” said Dodson.
“Hummingbird Books is a very special addition to The Street Chestnut Hill. It will not only be a neighborhood destination for great literature, but also a warm and enriching space for our community where they can spend the day enjoying the simple pleasure of reading and connecting with others. We could not be more thrilled to welcome another local and female owned business to the property and support the many talented local writers when Hummingbird Books debuts this spring,” says Alana Stein, general manager of The Street Chestnut Hill.
Hummingbird Books will join several other local and female owned businesses currently at The Street, including the recently opened STUDS, The Vault Nantucket, Legit Activewear, Eyespot, and Bianca.
Located in the heart of Chestnut Hill, The Street has quickly become one of the region’s most delightful destinations for shops, eateries, entertainment and culture. Both a leader in national retail trends and a cornerstone within its Chestnut Hill community, The Street enchants its visitors with a collection of over 40 unrivaled brands, as well as lively programming by way of art, music, fitness, and kid-friendly fun. The Street boasts the first OddFellows Ice Cream Co., Juice Press, Showcase SuperLux, Shake Shack and Splendid in Massachusetts, as well as locally and nationally loved restaurants and retailers such as Blue Bottle, Warby Parker, Simon Pearce, Porcelanosa, Polkadog Bakery, Bianca, Chilacates, lululemon, Nike by Chestnut Hill, and PNC Bank. The Street’s transformation under owner WS Development led the International Council of Shopping Center’s U.S. Design and Development to recognize the property with a Gold Award in the category of Renovations/Expansions of Mixed-use Projects. The Street is located at 33 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill Massachusetts, directly along Route 9, between Hammond Pond Parkway and Hammond Street.
Massachusetts-based WS Development is a mixed-use developer with a singular mission: creating places people want to be. With an approach that values art, science, innovation and, above all else, people, WS strives to engage each community it serves with best-in-class installations and activations. Established in 1990, WS is a vertically-integrated company that conceptualizes, owns, operates and leases more than 100 properties that range from cutting-edge urban spaces to lifestyle and community centers. With over 20 million square feet of existing space and an additional five million square feet under development, it is one of the largest privately-owned development firms in the country.