News•Mar 25, 2026
5 Years of Lessons From Running My Own Bookstore
Ryan Holiday and his wife opened The Painted Porch, an independent bookstore in Bastrop, Texas, in March 2020 despite the pandemic and prevailing digital‑retail trends. Over five years the shop has not only survived but become a profitable community hub by curating a small, love‑driven inventory and repurposing the space for podcasts, events, and office work. The owners credit unconventional thinking, experimental mindset, and eye‑catching spectacles like a 20‑foot book tower for driving traffic. Their experience offers a playbook for small‑scale retailers seeking relevance in a digital age.
