Bards Alley Updates
On Friday, February 25, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated health guidance that included new metrics for determining COVID-19 community levels. Based on this new guidance, Fairfax County’s current COVID-19 community level is low.
Based on these new metrics and CDC guidance, we will no longer be requiring masks for entry. Staff and patrons will be allowed to make a choice whether or not they will wear a mask starting Tuesday, March 1. However, we will continue to post signage requiring masks for unvaccinated individuals.
As always, if you have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or if you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, out of respect and deference for our staff and community, please stay home.
We will continue to be vigilant regarding CDC guidelines, and will update these rules accordingly. Thank you for helping us keep our staff and community safe and healthy.
Based on these new metrics and CDC guidance, we will no longer be requiring masks for entry. Staff and patrons will be allowed to make a choice whether or not they will wear a mask starting Tuesday, March 1. However, we will continue to post signage requiring masks for unvaccinated individuals.
As always, if you have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or if you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, out of respect and deference for our staff and community, please stay home.
We will continue to be vigilant regarding CDC guidelines, and will update these rules accordingly. Thank you for helping us keep our staff and community safe and healthy.
our story
historyIn July 2017, Jennifer Morrow, a resident of the town of Vienna, Virginia, opened the small independent bookstore at 110 Church Street NW in Vienna. Her vision was to create a space where individuals young and old can gather to exchange ideas, receive personalized book recommendations, and discover new titles and local authors. |
|
|
The NameJen came up with the name “Bards Alley” to represent her choice to showcase classic and contemporary work in the bookstore’s inventory of 5,000+ titles. The “Bard” portion of the name refers to the Elizabethan writer, William Shakespeare, who is commonly known as, simply, “the Bard,” while “Alley” refers to J.K. Rowling’s Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series. |
Jen was also inspired by the image of a bard as a lute-carrying lyric poet. She believes everyone has a unique story to tell in their own way. Jen’s vision for Bards Alley is to have it be a place of discovery, which is another reason why she chose the word “alley.”
the missionBards Alley Bookshop offers carefully curated literature and whimsical expressions of life. Our goal is to create a village of kindred spirits in support of our local and global communities. We are committed to serving Vienna through partnerships with local schools and nonprofits, promoting local authors and artisans, and providing a place for community connection. We want the contents of our shelves to both reflect and edify our neighborhood. |
|
Jen morrow
|
After experiencing firsthand the wonder of her son learning to read, Jen (she/her) knew she had to find a way to bring a bookstore to her community. Her favorite books include epic stories such as One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez; however, she certainly won’t turn down the chance to read classics such as Pride & Prejudice for the tenth time!
Jen chose the name “Bards Alley” to represent a store whose inventory includes classics as well as new books (think Shakespeare meets Diagon Alley). When not reading aloud to her kids or nestled with a book and one (or more) of her three cats, you can find Jen enjoying a cup of strong black coffee, quoting facts about Elvis Presley, or hosting game nights at her home. She is excited by the prospect of her favorite book not having been written yet. Check out these books that Jen loves! |
amy lane
|
Amy (she/her) has been in the book business since 1995 and is grateful to be a part of the dynamic team at Bards Alley. She is an avid theatre-goer and performer with an MA in Theatre History. One of her greatest joys is helping folks find just the right book for themselves or others!
Check out these books that Amy loves! |
Leah Grover
|
Leah (she/her) emailed Jen the day Bards Alley opened to beg for a job. Imagine her surprise when she was hired nine months later! She’s thrilled to bring her passion for events and marketing to the Bards Alley team. Leah hates trying to pick a favorite book—but, if forced to choose, she almost invariably responds with the book she enjoyed most recently.
When she’s not trying to convince people to buy her favorite young adult or middle grade novels, you can probably find her playing Kingdom Hearts or enjoying the area's best restaurants with her husband, Ryan. Check out these books that Leah loves! |
Lynne Kohls
|
Lynne’s (she/her) start at Bards Alley began with a casual conversation between Jen, the owner, and Lynne. “My dream is to hopefully open a bookstore, with wine and coffee,” Jen once said. Lynne responded, “Not hopefully, but when you open your bookstore, I would love to work for you!” Lynne has been with Bards Alley since day one, working as a bookseller and in the café. When she isn’t at Bards Alley, she is either spending time with her husband, sons, extended family, friends, dog, or kindergarteners; hosting her book club; or restocking her Little Free Library. Lynne’s favorite books are The Other Wes Moore and Twisted Fairy Tales, which she loves to read aloud! One of her favorite adages to live by is: “When something goes wrong in your life just yell, ‘Plot twist!’ and move on.”
Check out these books that Lynne loves! |
Diane Naughton
|
Diane (she/her) has always wondered what it took to create and run a bookstore, so she asked Jen Morrow if she needed an assistant. How lucky for Diane that Jen said yes! Diane didn’t know much about shelf-talkers, opening inventories, or sidelines, but she knew what she liked when she visited other bookstores.
When she is not reading or going to her book club, Diane can be seen walking her black lab, Maggie, practicing yoga, and producing independent films. But as much as she loves a good movie, it’s never as good as the book! Check out these titles that Diane loves! |
Kathy Ellen Davis
|
Kathy Ellen (she/her) recently moved from California, where she worked at an indie bookstore, and is so happy to be working at Bards Alley! She reads about twenty books a day to her toddler and occasionally finds time to write kidlit too. Warning: if she talks to you in the store you may end up buying more books than you planned because she’ll show you all her favorites. She mostly reads middle grade and young adult books, but also reads some adult non-fiction. If you see her in the store, chat with her about books! She loves to hear people’s favorite reads!
Check out these books that Kathy Ellen loves! |
Amy Woolsey
|
Amy (she/her) has loved stories since she first discovered Hogwarts and Middle Earth as a kid. Over time, her taste in literature has grown to encompass everything from George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss to Alison Bechdel's Fun Home to Mohsin Hamid's Exit West, but tales of magical worlds and epic journeys will always have a special place in her heart. When she's not at Bards Alley or in a book, she is watching movies and TV, rooting for the Washington Nationals, or writing.
Check out these books that Amy loves! |
Sol "Kitty" Garza
|
Sol "Kitty" Garza (they/them) is a purveyor of forbidden knowledge, teller of tales, first among exiles from the forgotten realms. Knowledgeable on matters of sci-fi, fantasy, and diverse tomes. Reliable for secret wisdom on comic books and graphic novels but beware their DC Comics rants. Can be bid for a single boon with an adequate tribute of fancy root beer (the good stuff).
Check out these books that Kitty loves! |
Elizabeth Groux
|
Elizabeth (they/them) is a historical fiction enthusiast from Southern California who loves nothing more than a strong debut. When they're not reading or rooting for the New York Giants, Elizabeth enjoys spoiling their red-eared slider, Sherman Capote, and hoarding Springsteen records.
Check out these books that Elizabeth loves! |
Mallory Sutton
|
Mallory (she/they) is a sucker for historical non-fiction, biographical fiction, dark fantasy, and middle grade animal thrillers. Don’t even get her started on the Warriors series! Freshly graduated from GMU, they moved here from Norfolk, VA with their partner-in-crime, Turtle Joe, and a small stack of books. When Mallory isn’t reading, you can find her huddled up in a corner playing Pokémon on her Nintendo Switch.
Check out these titles that Mallory loves! |
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
The experience of the booksellers here makes the task of discovering a new book, or a classic, an easy and exciting experience! All of the staff members here are pleasant and enthusiastic about books of every genre. I do admit that this bookstore is small, but they carry a great selection of books.... Come check out this quaint little shop and discover something new!
Ryan G.
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Amazing little bookshop! Great selection of books... The wines we picked were fantastic and the staff was friendly too! Fabulous!
Maureen F.
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Cool atmosphere. Friendly staff. Very cool that they sell coffee and booze.
John E.
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 0
- 1
- 2