Today we’d like to introduce you to Skyler Middleton.
Hi Skyler, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Owning a bookstore was a dream I never anticipated acting on. I always figured it would be something I daydreamed about while working corporate jobs that I lacked passion for. When I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in spring 2025, I still didn’t have a clear career path in front of me. I spent six years in college, changing my major three times before finding Writing Arts at Rowan University.
Right after my graduation, I was lucky enough to go on a study abroad trip with my Writing Genre Fiction class. The trip consisted of castles and carriage rides along the coast of Ireland. It felt like a different world. The genre of fantasy was lingering in the back of my mind when the opportunity for Storynook came.
I was walking my dog, Daisy, in downtown Merchantville when I passed by my uncle’s retail building, and the empty storefront he was looking to rent out. I remember saying to Daisy that it would be a fantastic spot for a bookstore. Every day for a week or two after that, I spent my time daydreaming about what kind of bookstore it could be. What kind of bookstore I would turn it into if I had the chance.
I didn’t expect my uncle to agree when I pitched the idea. I wouldn’t have been able to turn the space into what it is now without his help. We got to work immediately. My mom and I spent months renovating the space. Turning the once white-walled, gray floor-tiled room into my dream fantasy bookstore. Storynook came to be so quickly it didn’t feel real; most of the time it still doesn’t. We are coming up on one year of being open, and the constant evolution of the store can be hard to keep up with. When we first opened the doors, it felt so empty to me, but now we are full of new and used books, as well as ten local vendors selling antique furniture, artwork, and more.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Storynook went from a vision to a reality in less than five months, and I have been making everything up as I go. I am finding new ways to struggle every single day, and most of the time I am my own worst enemy. Self-doubt is always looming, and the anxiety it creates can be paralyzing. After the novelty wore off and my days consisted of me sitting alone in the store, I hit a wall. The fear of putting myself out there, creating events I had no idea how to run, and furthering the business was incredibly hard to work through. I am still working through it. As a 26-year-old with an autoimmune disease, my energy levels fluctuate, and my health is unpredictable. There have been many days when I have wanted to throw it all away for the passionless office job, but I owe it to myself to see this through. Shifting my perspective into one of gratitude keeps me moving forward. I am very lucky for the community I have cultivated over the last year. Even when things aren’t going as planned, I feel supported and know I can try again tomorrow.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Storynook is quite different from other independent bookstores. Since we started with nothing- no funding or resources- I had to be creative with filling the shelf space while we built up our book inventory. Bringing in local artists and vendors was an easy solution and the best decision I could’ve made. Hosting so many amazing creatives is one of my favorite parts of this store. The artists have their own stations representing their unique styles, all falling within the fantasy theme and complementing each other. Getting the chance to connect my community to these local artists, especially in a time when AI is flooding creative spaces, is so rewarding. Storynook is dedicated to putting people first and keeping AI out of the store.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Something that might surprise people is that independent bookstores are having a big moment right now. Despite our country having a serious literacy crisis, more than 600 bookstores opened over the last year, including Storynook. The fantasy genre in particular has gotten very popular with the rise of romantasy as a subgenre. It makes sense that readers want to escape through the books they’re picking up. I am so grateful to be the one to introduce them to the next fantasy world they get to step into.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storynook.nj/
