Nine Stories brings more books to Lawrenceville

anniversary on Tuesday and host the grand opening of their new bookstore on Saturday.

Six years ago, when they began living together in Philadelphia, neither would part with their copies of J.D. Salinger’s work, especially “Franny & Zooey” and “Nine Stories.”

Their bookstore, called Nine Stories after that anthology, holds about 2,000 new and used books in 900 square feet of space. It’s a cozy place for browsers and buyers who want to sip coffee or latte while reading. That’s because Nine Stories shares space with Caffe D’Amore in a building at 5400 Butler St. in upper Lawrenceville. The bookstore’s grand opening is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

While in Philly, the couple learned the trade from friends who ran The Spiral Bookcase in Manayunk, an affluent, charming neighborhood northwest of that city’s downtown. Mr. Shortino, 31, earned a master’s degree in creative writing at Temple University, where he focused on fiction. Ms. Mosher, 30, is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts graduate program in visual arts.

For the past four years, the couple have saved money and bought inventory by visiting book sales and yard sales. The store’s shelves are on one wall, open tables with new books are on the other. There’s also a space for public readings.

“Both of us have a strong interest in fiction,” said Mr. Shortino, adding that the store also sells nonfiction, an extensive collection of books on film, green living, art and design, fantasy, horror and science fiction.

Also for sale will be notebooks, tote bags, T-shirts with literary themes and candles from the Beechview business North Ave Books, including its banned books candles. The Fahrenheit 451 candle is scented with smoked pine and parchment because that is the temperature at which paper burns.