New chapter: English teacher opens independent bookstore in downtown Arlington Heights

English teacher Dana Foley spent 25 years in the classroom sharing her love of reading.

Indeed, the front of her Arlington Heights home hosts two Little Free Library branches where passersby are free to take or leave books.

As she contemplated her next chapter in life — Foley retired from Palatine Township Elementary District 15 in June — she also for years dreamed of a place for all sorts of literary works and a place to talk about them.

That’s led to her newest title: independent bookstore owner.

Scout’s Tales — named after her first dog, who was named for the protagonist in “To Kill a Mockingbird” — is Foley’s 1,200-square-foot community gathering spot for books, book clubs and author visits in downtown Arlington Heights.

Since opening at 22 S. Dunton Ave. earlier this month, the shop experiences a constant stream of foot traffic most days, and gets an additional boost from the nearby summer concerts on Thursday nights. Foley has found it hard to keep some titles stocked on the shelves.

There isn’t another independent bookstore for another 10 miles (in Barrington and Northbrook). Downtown Arlington Heights hasn’t had one in some two decades, and even then, that was a used bookstore.

What differentiates a mom-and-pop shop in the market, up against the likes of big box Barnes & Noble and e-commerce behemoth Amazon?

Foley and her small staff — all lifelong readers — don’t mind telling you what they like, if you ask.

“People really want, ‘I read this book, I love this book,’ and like to talk about it and to give our opinions. People really want that,” said Foley, who reads about five books at a time, and admits she doesn’t watch much TV.

“I don’t want to pick a book out online, because for one thing, you’re going to get book reviews that are not necessarily authentic,” she said.

Foley hand selects many of the titles — she leans on family and friends who are regular readers to provide recommendations, too — and orders multiple copies to stack the shelves. But she says it can also be a guessing game about what will sell.

Historical fiction is among the shop’s bestsellers. Cookbooks also do well. New sprayed edges books are popular with teen girls. As are colorful, oversized books with younger readers, who enjoy turning the big pages in the shop’s children’s section.

“They’re all selling because kids still want to lay on the floor with a big book. They still want to hold a book,” Foley said.

Shoppers also can find a good assortment of locally handmade tote bags, candles, puzzles, mugs, magnets and T-shirts.

Before the long checkout lines formed on the store’s opening day Aug. 1, Foley built up a network of social media followers who have relied on her book recommendations for years.

After signing a letter of intent with the retail strip center’s landlord in December — for one-third of the former Persin & Robbin Jewelers store space — Foley held pop-up events at nearby businesses to promote the bookstore in the making. That included bringing a cart of new books — along with her personal reviews — to patrons of Beer on the Wall. She also co-hosted a book club at Bitter & Sweet Cocktails, which paired literary discussion with a themed drink based on the book.

Future pop-up events are in the works. And three author visits are planned at the store in September.

She’s already been asked to host a wedding shower, Mahjong games and craft lessons.

“Every bookstore is different,” Foley said. “You can go in 10 bookstores in one day and have a totally different vibe, which is why people love bookstores.”

cplacek@dailyherald.com