Come as strangers,

Back in the year 2018 a new business arrived in the Manchester community

Liz Hitchcock brought the entrepreneurial optimism and knowledge that Manchester deserved. She imagined The Bookery as a community living room. Her vision extended beyond the books themselves to the experience of the space: the welcoming couch gathered around the fireplace, the reading tree tucked into the children’s room, the whimsical flying books overhead. Every detail was intended to create a sense of comfort, delight, and wonder.

Together, those ideas formed the foundation of The Bookery. 

Then came COVID.

Like so many places built around bringing people together, The Bookery entered a period of uncertainty. The rhythms that had defined it were suddenly interrupted. Adjusting from crowded author talks, book clubs around a shared table, and families lingering over coffee and stories was a task we never thought we’d have to navigate. The world was put in lockdown, and the role of community spaces was challenged in ways no one could have imagined.

Yet that difficult chapter only reinforced why places like The Bookery matter.

As the store evolved, Cassie Doran created the truly curated bookstore you all recognize today. Cassie took the original vision, listened to the community's needs, and expanded it. By helping fill the stacks with thoughtful book curation, witty and charming merchandising, and a deep understanding of readers. Cassie helped establish The Bookery as one of New Hampshire's enduring independent bookstores. At the same time, she ensured that it remained much more than a store. It flourished into a place for conversations and clubs, author talks, community gatherings, a platform for local artists, and the countless small interactions that continue to transform neighbors into friends.

The Bookery has never belonged to one person. It has grown to understand Manchester’s needs and remains a reliable place for discovery, friendship, and community. And the real story of The Bookery is, and always has been, the community that gathers inside it.