Fruita residents have a new destination for books and beverages, as TBR Book Bar opened its doors on South Mulberry Street this month, with a grand opening scheduled for October 3 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Located at 242 S. Mulberry St., the new establishment combines a bookstore with a lounge, serving wine, beer, and coffee drinks, alongside a small selection of food items.
Brandy Remy, the owner and operator, said the vision for TBR Book Bar is to be “a place for community to gather.” This community focus extends to its open-door policy; everyone is welcome at all times of day, regardless of age, with non-alcoholic wine and champagne options available in addition to coffee served throughout the day. Remy noted that kids have already been seen using the space for homework after school.
Remy’s journey to opening TBR Book Bar began in March after her husband, Matthew Remy, took over the family business, Affordable Fire Protection. This change allowed Brandy Remy to explore new ventures. She initially joked about opening “a bookstore with wine in it” to a friend, but the idea quickly took root. Remy said she tried to find every reason not to open the business, but her efforts instead convinced her it was the right path.
The process of bringing the vision to life moved “incredibly fast,” according to Remy. From the initial idea in mid-to-late March, she quickly found the Fruita location. She described the building owner, Ed Cherry, as instrumental in working out a lease. Renovations included removing a garage door and adding a coffee and wine bar, transforming the large, open space into a cozy lounge.
The interior design emphasizes comfort, with tables, chairs, couches, and love seats arranged to create an atmosphere Remy described as “like you were sitting down with friends on your couch.” The color scheme draws from the local landscape, featuring greens, oranges, and browns inspired by the Fruita desert. In addition to the main lounge, a quieter room in the rear is available for small groups, designed for book clubs, meetings, or job interviews. This room is generally available first-come, first-served, but Remy plans to implement a reservation calendar, allowing it to be booked at no cost.
On the shelves, TBR Book Bar offers a wide array of new books. Remy said she reached out to the community via a Fruita message board on Facebook to gauge reading preferences, resulting in “a little bit of everything,” including fantasy, thrillers, a significant religious section, children’s books, fiction, and nonfiction. She also curated a selection specifically representing Colorado and Fruita.
During its unannounced soft opening, Remy said she was “floored” by the community’s response. She noted that initial sales goals were “doubled or tripled” every day, indicating strong local support even before any wider announcements.
TBR Book Bar, whose name is a TikTok term meaning “To Be Read”—signifying a stack of books—employs 12 people, including three full-time staff. Jen Snyder serves as the coffee manager, bringing her recipes to the coffee bar, which sources its beans from Novo Coffee, a Denver roaster.
Emphasizing local ties, TBR Book Bar features a selection of wines exclusively from the Grand Valley. Offerings include varieties from Colterris Winery, Carboy Winery, Mafia Princess Wines, Peachfork Orchards and Vineyard, The Ordinary Fellow, and Vines79 Wine Barn. For beer, the bar carries canned options from Grand Valley microbreweries Base Camp Beer Works and Ramblebine Brewing Company.
The grand opening on October 3 will offer more than just books and beverages. Remy announced that the event will include a local tattoo artist doing tiny tattoos, a baker selling book-themed cookies, a permanent jewelry station, a build-your-own bouquet bar, and a build-your-own t-shirt bar.
