Story & Photos by Dave Warner
A long-vacant former steakhouse in the heart of the East End is getting a major makeover and a new purpose. Local entrepreneur Nick Bennett is transforming the three-storefront space into Athenix Books & Brews, a combination independent bookstore and café designed to become the community’s new “third place” — a spot where people of all ages can gather, relax, and connect.
The bookstore portion of Athenix Books & Brews will soft-open on January 2, 2025, with hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week (extended hours on event nights). The full café, dubbed “Brews,” is slated to launch on March 1, 2025, and will be open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day — filling what Bennett says is a glaring gap for early-morning and evening coffee options beyond fast-food chains.
“This is something the community needs,” Bennett said in a recent interview. “There isn’t a bookstore within 40 minutes in any direction, and there really isn’t a place anymore where people can just come together seven days a week.”
The space is being built with community in mind from day one:
- Minimum four community events per week once the café is running (everything from knitting circles to Super Smash Bros tournaments)
- Monthly rotating art exhibits featuring local artists and photographers (already booked through September 2026)
- Space for local crafters and artisans to sell their work inside the bookstore starting January 2
- A blind coffee taste-test in late March where the public will vote on which roast becomes the house coffee
Perhaps most personal is the name itself: Athenix is a blend of Bennett’s two daughters’ names — Athena and Nexi.
“This place means everything to me,” Bennett said. “I’m putting everything I have into it. It’s literally my third child.”
With just under 30 days until the bookstore doors open, Bennett has been living on-site to finish renovations, patching walls, painting, and planning unique design touches that he promises will make the space feel warm and welcoming.
When fully open in March, Athenix Books & Brews aims to offer something the area has been missing: a bright, lively, all-day gathering spot that’s equal parts literary haven, coffee shop, and community living room.
Residents won’t have to wait long. The books arrive January 2, and the brews — chosen by the community itself — follow about three months later.
Independent bookstores aren’t just surviving—they’re thriving as vital community anchors, especially those blending books with cafés, events, and local flair. Drawing from recent trends, the American Booksellers Association reports over 2,500 indie stores nationwide as of 2025, up from 1,650 in 2009, fueled by a post-pandemic craving for in-person connections.
Many succeed by hosting events, curating local vibes, and adding revenue streams like coffee, much like Bennett’s vision for Athenix. With 291 new stores in 2023 alone and events driving 15–25% sales lifts, the community-first model is spot-on.
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