Phoenix bookstore serves Valley wine, beer
By: Michelle Chance
Book lovers and wine aficionados around The Valley finally have a bookstore and wine bar in one location.
First Draft Book Bar is located within the new Changing Hands Bookstore on Third Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix.
“We have a full coffee bar, beers on tap and in bottle, wines on tap and in the bottle, and we have light snacks,” said Cindy Dach, Co-owner of Changing Hands.
Dach said the unique idea was influenced by similar bookstores back east.
“We’ve seen this model with Kramer bookstore in Washington D.C., The Book Cellar Cafe in Chicago, and in Europe we’ve seen this model a lot,” Dach said.
Due to the challenging bookstore marketplace, Dach said updating the business model was essential for the future of Changing Hands.
“Really, it was our leadership and ownership team that asked ‘What would bookstore 2.0 look like?’ So we decided that this was the model of the future for us,” Dach said.
Like the Tempe location, this Changing Hands bookstore will host author events, parties, and networking meetings.
“Mainly, we see it as a location to meet and work with great authors for their presentations where somebody can enjoy coffee, beer, and wine before or after the event,” Dach said.
ASU student, Jason Unangst said that drinking wine while reading a good book is one of the ways he chooses to unwind.
“I think the concept of books and wine go really well together as drinking wine and reading a book are both relaxing activities,” Unangst said.
Unangst said his favorite book is “The Count of Monte Christo” by Alexander Dumas, which is available used at Changing Hands for $4.99.
First Draft Book Bar is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is a daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m.
