Cindy Otis didn’t always intend on opening up a bookstore, though she always secretly wanted to. When tasked with having to choose between a college degree in creative writing or political science, Otis chose the latter. Now, she’s getting to choose that second piece, her love for reading and writing, and she’s sharing it with all of us.

Her bookstore, The Stacks, is slated to open in early December as a community focused space on Waters Avenue in Savannah. Otis plans to serve local readers and writers that live in the same neighborhood she calls home. 

“I live just down the road from here. So it’s in my own neighborhood. And I loved this idea of creating, really, truly, a neighborhood bookstore – a community space where neighbors could walk or maybe do a short drive, come over on a weekly basis, nerd out about books. If they’re writers, I wanted to have a space for them to come and work. As a writer myself, I know how important it is to have creative spaces. So I want to build a place that is inspiring and inspires that creativity for fellow writers as well.” 

After two years of renovation, the midtown space became available and Otis felt the stars align. Her 835 square foot bookstore will be part of a larger, shared space with two other businesses, Casting Grey Botanical and Good Fortune Market. 

“When this space opened up, I was actually headed out on a trip and I had like an hour before I had to go to the airport to come in to see it. I got in, I saw it, I found out the other businesses coming into the building, and I was like, I mean, done, this is the place.”       

Apart from what the physical space will look like–boastful bookshelves, cozy reading nooks and a writer’s corner–Otis thinks about the impact her independent bookstore could have. A self-described reluctant reader as a child, Otis describes this “magical moment” of connecting with a story. “I know firsthand how life changing connecting with the right stories can be for a person. They can make a reader feel seen and heard for the first time in their life. They can help them be transported to other worlds. They can grow their imagination, they can help them feel less alone.” 

It’s this magical moment, she believes, that can transform communities and build generations of readers who feel represented, a feeling that can be challenging in the world of publishing. 

“I myself, as a writer with a disability, know how difficult breaking into the publishing world is and how little we are represented in the publishing industry. And so it’s important for people to feel like there are stories in here for them. I want them to be obvious from the moment they walk into the building.” 

The Stacks will be a physically accessible space for readers of all abilities with books by authors from underrepresented communities. Otis plans to have author events, open mic nights for writers, book parties, and more, all in an effort to unite the community and give people a place they belong, “I think that’s as important for kids as it is for adults,” she said. 

Whether you’re a reluctant reader, a book nerd or looking for a community space, you will find your place and your story at The Stacks. Otis will make sure of it. 

The Stacks plans to be open to the public in early December.

This article appears in Connect Savannah | November, 2023.