More Than a Bookstore: Charlotte’s Romance Readers Find a New Hub
Charlotte’s First Romance Bookstore Opens in Plaza Midwood
By Jack Beckett, Senior Writer at The Charlotte Mercury
Charlotte’s bookstore scene just got a little steamier. Trope Bookshop, the city’s first romance-only bookstore, has opened in Plaza Midwood, bringing together swooning readers, passionate plots, and plenty of smut. (wfae.org)
Owner Katie Mitchell, 34, transformed a former tattoo parlor into a sanctuary for romance enthusiasts. The store offers over 900 titles, catering to many romantic tastes—from lighthearted love stories to more intense narratives. Whether you’re into mafia bad boys, monster romances, or the surprisingly popular “hockey romance” genre, there’s a section just for you. (axios.com)
From Book Bus to Brick & Mortar
Mitchell’s journey to opening Trope Bookshop didn’t start with a lease—it started with a bus. In 2023, she bought a 2006 mini Ford school bus off Facebook Marketplace, painted it green, and launched a mobile bookstore. “Green Girl,” as she named it, became a regular sight at coffee shops and breweries across Charlotte, drawing a devoted following of romance readers. Now, the storefront allows her to expand while keeping the bus for occasional pop-ups. (axios.com)
The Bookstore’s Spicy Inventory
Inside the dark-green walls of Trope Bookshop, the air is thick with fresh paint and possibility. The store is divided into 16 sections, ranging from contemporary and young adult romance to royal love stories, paranormal entanglements, and an entire section dedicated to cowboys.
“The girls love the cowboys,” Mitchell says.
The back shelves are where things get a little darker. There’s a mafia romance section, a serial killer section (for those who like their love interests… complicated), and, of course, the growing “romantasy” genre—home to fairy smut, magical love triangles, and epic sagas that have drawn comparisons to fantasy heavyweights like George R. R. Martin and Brandon Sanderson.
“Hockey romance is one of the biggest sellers,” Mitchell adds, shrugging. “Apparently, if men want women to read about them, all they need to do is get into a fistfight on ice.”
A Romance Community Grows in Charlotte
Trope Bookshop has quickly become more than just a store—it’s a hub. The grand opening weekend drew crowds with a DJ, food trucks, and author signings. The store also hosts a monthly book club, which has seen attendance numbers as high as 300. The next meeting is scheduled for March 18 at Resident Culture South End. (axios.com)
“We live in unprecedented times,” Mitchell says. “If I have to hear that phrase one more time on the internet or the news, I— I can’t. So, yeah. Give me some precedent. Give me something where I know exactly how it’s going to go. And I think there’s something to be said for that.”
Think you know romance? Test your taste at Trope’s next book club on March 18 at Resident Culture South End. Bring opinions. Bring wine. Leave your literary snobbery at the door.
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Jack Beckett, signing off to refill my coffee mug. ☕
