For the past 24 years, Sappho Books has been holding it down amongst Sydney’s bookshops. But the journey for long-time owner, Meredith Baille, is coming to an end.
Just a two-kilometre walk from Sydney’s Central Station, Sappho Books, Cafe and Bar, is everything that you want in a secondhand bookshop – books, coffee, music, wine, and a cat. (Featured image: @sapphobooks)
Housed in a former youth centre and (self-described) rambling multi-storey building with over a century of charm, Sappho has over 30,000 titles for the curious to go searching through. And the best part of there being such a large collection is the thrill of searching for that out-of-print copy you want that just might be hiding in the next bookshelf. If there exists a place to find it, Sappho is definitely one of the places you must check out.
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Once you’ve found that elusive title, why wait to begin reading? Find your way to the courtyard and set yourself up with a coffee and maybe even a bite to eat. There’s something for every literary-bent and diet. Stick around for long enough and the cafe will convert into the bar (except Mondays and Tuesdays) serving sangria in the summer, mulled wine in the winter, and cocktails all year round.
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But as it stands, Sappho Books, Cafe and Bar, is looking for a new owner. It is time, Meredith says, to pursue other dreams. Everything is to be included: the bookshop, the cafe, the bar, the secondhand music shop, Da Capo, located upstairs as well. It’s a dream for many to own a bookshop and now that dream may hopefully become a reality for another book lover who will continue to nurture Sappho into the future. And don’t worry if you’ve got zero experience in running a business or a bookshop, training can be negotiated with Meredith.
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But the cats, Charlie and Cleïs, probably won’t be sticking around. So, if you’ve never been, or if it has been a minute, or you’re a regular at Poetry Night every second Tuesday of the month, get back down to Sappho and show some love before the business changes hands.
In the meantime, follow us on Facebook for more tidbits about town.