A new local bookstore is preparing to begin its story in Atlanta.
Offbeat Books is planned for Terminal South, bringing a variety of reads to the upcoming development in Peoplestown. The shop will offer a curated selection of books across every genre with a special focus on sci-fi, fantasy and horror.
Expect reads that are a little off the beaten bath, which is exactly what owner Lindsi Bollinger likes.
“I think my taste in books is pretty far off mainstream. Books I like have truly horrendous ratings on Goodreads,” she jokes. “I love books that are very weird and out there.”
The store is a new chapter for Bollinger, an avid lifelong reader and bookstore visitor who majored in English in college. She felt inspired to create a space for millennial book lovers, especially young women.
“I’ve found that there aren’t many bookstores that cater to my demographic, which is relatively young adult women, especially in the genres I really enjoy, like sci-fi, fantasy and horror,” she said. “Those are very masculine-coded genres.”
But Offbeat Books isn’t just for girls; it’s for anyone looking for their next read or wanting to find a community for book lovers. In addition to the range of unique literature, the store will also offer books for young adults and children, as well as other product offerings and gifts like stickers, bookmarks, journals, mugs, puzzles and more.
“I wanted to create a space that is very young and contemporary for people, for millennials that grew up online and a lot of the weird things that come with that,” Bollinger said.
While there are several book stores on the east side of Atlanta (Bollinger particularly enjoys Virginia Highland Books, A Cappella Books in Inman Park, and Eagle Eye Book Shop and Charis Books and More in Decatur), there aren’t many in this particular part of the city, and she is excited to fall that gap.
Offbeat Books will be located in a 1,200-square-foot space in Building One at Terminal South. Bollinger describes the aesthetic of the store as a “vintage astronomy lab.” What does that entail? Deep navy walls, bourbon-colored bookshelves, a cozy reading nook, and a black ceiling with a starry night sky projected onto it.
“I wanted it to feel like you’ve stepped out of time when you come in,” she said. “I’m really going for a whimsical, ethereal look to it.”
The shop plans to host book clubs, author signings and a Dungeons & Dragons group.
Offbeat Books is expected to open in late summer or early fall. The bookstore joins previously announced retail tenants coming to Terminal South, like permanent jewelry brand Nadora Sky.
Terminal South is expected to open in early summer 2025. The project features the adaptive reuse of two former warehouse structures, bringing approximately 45,625 square feet of mixed-use space to the site south of Downtown Atlanta. In addition to the retail shops, the development will include several dining options via a food hall called Switchman Hall and an artisanal pizzeria specializing in plenty of gluten-free options.
“Lindsi’s vision for a thoughtfully curated, personality-filled bookstore aligns perfectly with our goal of creating a vibrant collection of local makers and purveyors that deliver an authentic experience for both neighbors and visitors to Atlanta,” said Melissa Ahrendt, the executive director of real estate at Stafford Properties, the developer of Terminal South.
Bollinger is excited to have a space for readers to come together and celebrate books, whatever it is they like to read.
“This is what I love,” she said. “I love talking to people about books. It would be really hard for me to have a store where I didn’t get to be there every day.”
If you’re looking for a book recommendation to dive into ahead of the opening of Offbeat Books, Bollinger recommends Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.
“It’s universally esteemed, an incredible book,” she said.
Follow Offbeat Books on Instagram @OffbeatBooksATL.
