LIT Book Bar Brings the Heat to Downtown Richmond

Storm clouds rumble above as soft raindrops run down the wide window panes of LIT Book Bar. At the bustling intersection of Jackson & 7th streets, downtown Richmond is abuzz. 

A once more desolate corner is now humming with fresh shops, friendly faces, shaded park goers and a brand new independent bookstore. 

Sandwiched between the epicenter of the popular Blockhouse Coffee & Kitchen, and the

energetic EK Boutique, sits the newest gem in town. 

If curling up with a good book on a rainy day is your vibe, then LIT Book Bar is your new favorite haunt. That’s a promise.

One step through the front doors - or courtyard doors out back - and you’re instantly transported to the speakeasy vibes of the Roaring 20s, surrounded by rows and rows of books on one end, and a Prohibition-style bar on the other. Loaded with eye candy in every nook and cranny, owner Jillian Reed has managed to perfectly marry the wonderment of fantasy, the hues of drama and the whispers of adventure into one magical place. 

Reed also takes her creativity to the next level with her rotating menu of cocktail and mocktail concoctions - inspired by books and seasons, of course. This spring’s menu features cocktails donning names such as the Lychee Martini, Lavender Lemon Drop, Elderflower Bee’s Knees and the Hibiscus Margarita. Their featured mix this month is the Remember Me cocktail inspired by author Abby Jimenez’s release, “Say You’ll Remember Me.”

But fear not, whether you’re dropping in mid-day while the kids peruse the shelves, or prefer the flavors minus the hangover route - their mocktails are just as thoughtfully curated, like the Don’t Call Me Shirley, Spicy Maggie and the Cranberry Fizz. 

LIT Book Bar is not only the perfect place for book lovers, it’s a beacon for true community, creativity and conversations. 

Reed and her team host a variety of events each month including book clubs, author signings, trivia nights, lectures, creative workshops, supper clubs and live music. They also recently hosted their second annual LITFest, which brought together over 20 local authors to share the stage and their stories, plus a host of local vendors to shop. 

What once started as a small book pop-up that grew into the traveling book bar mobile, to now a brick-and-mortar bookstore of our dreams, LIT Book Bar is bringing the heat, the reads and the heart to historic Richmond.

LIT Book Bar is located at 611 Jackson St. Suite B, Richmond, TX. You may purchase books in store, or on their website at litbookbar.com. Follow along for their 

menus and events @litbookbar on Facebook and Instagram.

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spec article written by Lauren Piland

photos by LIT Book Bar