About book/shop, etc.

A Bookstore, But Make It Everything.

book/shop, etc. is an independent, queer- and woman-owned bookstore and creative retail space proudly rooted in downtown Jefferson City, Missouri. Neurodivergently led and built with intention, it’s a space where difference isn’t just welcomed — it’s woven into the story. A love letter to design, dialogue, and doing things differently.

We’re here to rethink what a bookstore can Be.

Yes, you’ll find books — thoughtfully chosen, genre-spanning, and full of perspective. But you’ll also find original designs, locally made goods, and an ever-evolving lineup of prints, apparel, and gifts with bite, heart, and humor. Every product has a reason. Every detail has a point of view.

This space is meant to be felt.

Whether you walk in for five minutes or stay for an hour, the layout is intentional. The energy is curated. The experience lingers. It’s built for introverts, overthinkers, design lovers, and the deeply curious and everyone who’s ever wandered into a space and thought: “Oh. This is what I’ve been looking for.”

We’re not trying to be everything to everyone.

But if it feels like we see you? That’s the whole point.

What’s with the name?

(And why the slash, the lowercase, and the ever-mysterious “etc.”)

Let’s start with the obvious:
Yes, it’s book/shop, etc.
Yes, the slash is on purpose.
Yes, we know how to use punctuation — we just chose to do it this way.

This name isn’t a placeholder. It’s a philosophy.

book/shop is what we are and what we aren’t afraid to blend.
It’s books and retail. Thought and feeling. Quiet and connection.

We didn’t want to pick just one lane, so we didn’t.
The slash is a little signal that there’s room for both —
whatever your “both” may be.

The lowercase styling (even though the logo wears all caps — duality, baby) was never about trend. It’s about tone. Less shouty. More invitational. This place isn’t about performing intelligence or chasing aesthetics. It’s about presence. Ease.
A gentle reminder: you don’t need to prove anything to be here.

Then there’s etc.

We could’ve stopped at “bookshop.” But where’s the fun in that?

The etc. is the invitation.
It’s the wink.
It’s everything else we haven’t named yet —
the goods, the ideas, the unexpected offerings, and all the ways this space will grow.

Because we’re not just opening a store.

We’re building a place to Be.
To Be/long.
To Be/come.
To Be/lieve.
To bookmark what matters and toss what doesn’t.

book/shop, etc. is the sentence we’ll never finish.

And we like it that way.

About Lauren Janee

Hi, I’m Lauren Janee — the founder behind book/shop, etc.

After nearly 20 years helping brands and businesses find their voice, I decided to build one that speaks for itself. I’m a creative strategist, copywriter, retail nerd, and lifelong writer who loves designing experiences that connect people to something deeper — in themselves and in the world around them.

I didn’t stumble into this. I created it on purpose.
This bookstore is the next evolution of the work I’ve always done — blending creativity, commerce, and community. I’ve built national campaigns, launched brands from scratch, and helped hundreds of entrepreneurs find their footing. Now I’m doing the same thing, just with more books, more texture, and a little more glitter glue.

Everything you see here — from the shelf labels to the shirt tags to the sticker sayings — comes from the same core belief:

That the right words, in the right moment, can change everything.