As the popularity of indie bookstores surge nationwide, a romance-focused shop opens in West Ashley
by Hanalei Potempa | Contributing Writer
After years of being written off in the age of Amazon, independent bookstores are quietly staging a comeback as shoppers are actively trying to reconnect locally and reduce screen time.
On Sunday, March 29, West Ashley got its very own independent bookstore with the opening of The Bindings Collective. Located at 2048 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., just a stone’s throw from what used to be a Books-a-Million (now Michael’s) and about a mile from Barnes & Noble. But what The Bindings Collective offers is something you won’t find in a big box book seller or online. The number of indie bookshops in the U.S. has jumped roughly 70 percent since 2020, fueled by readers looking for something algorithms can’t offer: community, conversation, and a place to belong.
Inspired by the authors and books gaining popularity on “BookTok”—the contemporary reading community on TikTok that rose to popularity during COVID—Alexis Wentland started the “Smut Bus,” a portable, romance-themed bookshop.
“I really wanted to just give indie authors a voice, give them a place where they could showcase their work and showcase their books without fear of judgment or anything like that,” Wentland says.
Wentland initially brought the bus to local markets and events, but she soon realized that a permanent space would be more accessible—and create a better opportunity to uplift the local vendors she had worked alongside.
“It is a way to support all those local female-owned, or primarily female-owned businesses in the area. And frankly, without them, the ‘Smut Bus’ would never have existed because they were the ones who brought all of the people to the markets in the beginning.”
With a focus on supporting female-owned businesses, The Bindings Collective will feature a curated selection of new and popular romance titles, along with merchandise sourced from other local businesses.
The vendor offerings range from candles and pottery to freshly baked pastries and sourdough.
Wentland shared that she has always been a book lover. Her grandmother, a librarian, introduced her to reading early on—especially fantasy series like Twilight and Harry Potter. Romance, however, became her favorite genre, largely because of its inclusivity.
“What I love about romance specifically is how inclusive it is for all genders, all races, all types of people. It has something for everybody, and I wanted to give people a safe place to be able to experience that without any judgment or any fear of rejection,” Wentland says.
Her love of fantasy romance also inspired the store’s overall aesthetic. Wentland describes the space as a whimsical, European vintage romance atmosphere.
“We’re leaning into more of the deep, moody romantic—dark romance,” she says
When searching for a permanent home for the bookstore, Wentland was drawn to West Ashley after realizing the area lacked an indie bookstore on this side of town. Her goal is to create an accessible space for the greater Charleston community, with convenient parking and inclusive hours. The store will be open every day except Tuesday, with Monday hours varying to occasionally accommodate those in the restaurant industry who often have nontraditional schedules.
Although the business began as the “Smut Bus,” Wentland put significant thought into naming the permanent shop. The Bindings Collective reflects both a literary pun and a deeper meaning centered on community.
“The Bindings Collective was a culmination of combining everyone’s stories together and doing that as a collective. So not only book bindings, but everyone else’s stories that they have, whether it be artistically in art form via words or art form via something handmade and painted.”
As a romance enthusiast, Wentland has strong recommendations for readers looking to dive into the genre or find their next favorite book.
“I think everyone needs to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo—it’s just such a classic romance. It’s one if people aren’t necessarily sold on the genre or just kind of getting started that I always recommend everyone read first.”
She also recommends author Jessica Peterson, known for her Charleston-set “Low Country Heat” series, as well as her personal favorite indie author and Smut Bus top seller, Tempest Wick.
The Bindings Collective is located at 2048 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Unit 5. For more information find them on Instagram at www.instagram.com/thebindingscollective.
