Site of the future Read Shop by The Merchant on North Henderson Avenue. Photography by Renee Umsted.
A book store and coffee shop called Read Shop by The Merchant is planning to open on North Henderson Avenue.
The store, located in the old Emeralds to Coconuts apparel shop, will aim to copy the Read Shop in Atlanta, said Dan Collier, the owner of Daniel Richards. Emeralds to Coconuts closed in 2019 after about 40 years in Knox-Henderson.
Read Shop will be similar to another of Daniel Richards’ concepts, The Merchant, which closed in Lowest Greenville in May 2022 because the store lost its lease, Collier said. That space is now home to resale store Crossroads Trading Co.
Drinks at Read Shop will be made with beans from Portland-based Stumptown Coffee Roasters. And like The Merchant, Read Shop will also sell some gift items and plants, just not as many.
“It’s a bookstore first and foremost,” Collier said.
Photo courtesy of Read Shop by The Merchant.
Daniel Richards, a wholesale rep group specializing in gifts and stationery, has showrooms in Atlanta and Dallas. The company began opening retail stores in Atlanta about a decade ago and expanded to Dallas a few years later. Daniel Richards owns Archer Paper Goods and Proper Wax on Main Street in Deep Ellum.
Dallas’ two-story Read Shop at 2730 N. Henderson Ave. will have a kids section upstairs and seating throughout for lounging. In addition, there’s an outdoor patio that will be furnished with chairs.
“It’s a great place to come in the morning, drink coffee, read books and buy general gifts and hang out,” Collier said.
An opening date has not been set, but Collier said he’s shooting for an August opening.
