Romance Bookstore Finds New Home In Alexandria After Fire

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria's Friends to Lovers Bookstore had just held its grand opening when a fire hit the business and two others in November. The bookstore found a temporary home thanks to another business, but it will soon have a new storefront.

Visit Alexandria shared at its "What's New in 2025" meeting Tuesday that Friends to Lovers Bookstore will have a grand opening at 301 Cameron Street on April 2.

Until then, it is temporarily located above Wine Gallery 108 at 108 N. St. Asaph St. Current hours are 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Friends to Lovers Bookstore was one of three women-owned businesses by the fire. The others are Little Birdies Boutique and Madame Coco. Along with causing smoke damage, the fire destroyed the bookstore's inventory, according to a GoFundMe account. The GoFundMe started to support Friends to Lovers Bookstore raised over $46,000.

ALX Now reported that the fire started at Madame Coco, which is owned by Stacey Wharam and Meshelle Armstrong. The owner attributed it to an accidental cause with the POS system. The owners have since opened The Parlour, Madame Coco’s libation lounge, at 115 S. Royal Street, serving cocktails, coffee, chocolate and other bites. Meanwhile, Little Birdie Boutique continues to offer shipping of orders from its warehouse.

In its short time, Friends To Lovers Bookstore has attracted a following due to the increasing popularity of the romance genre of books. It is the first bookstore in the DC region focused on the romance genre.

To follow updates about Friends to Lovers Bookstore and its upcoming events, visit linktr.ee/friendstoloversbookstore.