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Books, Beans, and a Bit of Buzz: Bruno’s Opens in Brighton


ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Connected Know) — After a soft launch in August that drew curious locals, Bruno’s Books & Beans is officially open for business, with a month-long grand opening celebration throughout October.


Located at 1752 Monroe Avenue in Brighton, the new hybrid bookstore is part independent bookshop, part community hangout, and part eCommerce venture. With both new and used books available online and in store, the business represents a modern twist on the neighborhood bookstore, anchored in the local, but designed for scale.


From Soul Coffee to Shelf Browsing

Bruno’s is the latest venture from Amey Nolan, known for her past work at Village Gate’s Soul Coffee & Jazz. The space was born from her love of reading and community-building and named after her dog.



With warm lighting, shelf-lined walls, and the scent of fresh coffee drifting through the air, Bruno’s offers curated titles across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s, cookbooks, and more, plus a few surprises. The tagline says it best: “My Happy Place.”


While the physical store is open from 1–6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday weekly, its digital sibling never sleeps. All new and used titles will be browsable and shoppable online, at brunosbooksandbeans.com.


A Local Bookstore Built for the Digital Age

Bruno’s is part of a new wave of indie bookstores embracing omni-channel operations. Rather than view eCommerce as a threat, the store leans into it, The shop is shipping books nationwide and integrating its full inventory online, while also cultivating an in-person experience that prioritizes discovery, conversation, and community.


It’s a model that savvy retail investors and founders will recognize: part lifestyle brand, part niche fulfillment engine. Bruno’s earns revenue through a mix of new and used books, future in-store coffee, gifts, and future community programming, creating diversified in a volatile category.


Why This Matters

For business leaders, Bruno’s signals a few important trends in small-format retail:

  • Experience Still Wins: Bookstores that survive in 2025 do so by doubling down on vibe, curation, and community, three things Bruno’s is already becoming known for.

  • Inventory as Differentiator: By mixing used and new titles, Bruno’s can offer rare finds, better margins, and more sustainable sourcing.

  • Digital Integration: Instead of treating eCommerce as a bolt-on, Bruno’s runs a fully integrated online operation, matching titles, syncing inventory, and shipping beyond Rochester.


October Grand Opening: A Month of Celebration

The grand opening is a month-long celebration of literary love. While Rochester’s independent bookstore ecosystem is vibrant featuring longtime names like Small World Books, Ampersand, and Akimbo, Bruno’s stands out for its blended approach and retail ambition.



This is more than a bookstore. It’s a living room for Brighton’s curious minds and a signal that independent retail can thrive when rooted in place, personality, and platform.




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