Community Highlights: Meet Caroline Tillman of The Reading Attic

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Tillman

Hi Caroline, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always been an avid reader. Growing up some of my favorite memories were the summers I spent with my grandparents, and every night before bed I got to go in their library and pick out stories before bed. When I travel, my first stop is always the local bookstore. Books and bookstores have always just held a special place in my heart. As I got older, graduated college and started thinking about what my life would look like, I always had a desire to own my own company/business. I didn’t know what that would entail, but growing up in Marietta I always loved coming to the square and felt what it was missing was a bookstore. Chatting with my mom, I asked her if she would open a Bookstore with me. At the time, I was working fulltime in Corporate America, so knew I would need her support. After almost a year of looking for space, dreaming, building out, adding electrical, and more the time came. June 16th, 2023 was our first day! Here we are over a year later, we have received incredible support from the community and hope to continue to grow that. My vision is to be not only the local bookstore, but also a space where individuals can come decompress, escape, make new community, learn, grow, and laugh.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Truthfully, as much as I am type A, I didn’t have a plan. I just had a dream. I think that has helped in that I don’t have expectations for us. It has helped when something has gone sideways or just not maybe as I had anticipated. I would call them growing pains more than struggles, but trying to figure out our business hours, how many copies of each book we should order, what types of gift items to sell, what books to carry, how to market ourselves; it has been trial and error.

As you know, we’re big fans of The Reading Attic. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a local hometown independent bookstore. We specialize in children’s books as well as local authors. We are well known for our brand color, yellow. Our front door is yellow, so you can’t miss us! We are also known for our elephant logo, my grandmother, who sparked my love of reading, it was her favorite animal. I want people to view this space as an extension of their home. I want them to feel every time they step inside that they are back at their grandmother’s house reading. We are also known for our bookstore dog! My mini goldendoodle Fields is a fixture at the store, greeting customers, licking little hands, and even laying on her back for belly rubs!

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We always love when people tag and shout us out on social media! @thereadingattic on Instagram and The Reading Attic Bookstore on Facebook.

We love collaborating with local artists/businesses, doing Reading Attic specific collections with them.

Most of all, we love when people come by and then bring a friend or family member back!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thereadingattic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereadingattic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thereadingattic/

Image Credits
Leanne Hymes Photography & Andre Ford Photography