Our Story.

Bouquiniste Bookstore Cafe was founded in 2017 by Clay and Hannah, two Kiama locals with a background
in writing, publishing, retail and hospitality. The bricks and mortar space at Shop 1 Kiama Centrepoint
also boasts a special connection. In 1983, Clay’s parents first leased the space for their optical business and remained for 32 years, before relocating a few doors down. Clay literally grew up playing on the shop floor. 

In 2017, Clay and Hannah decided to lease the space again under a different name, turning their hypothetical bookstore café into a real one. And so, Bouquiniste was born. A place that welcomes a community of readers through highly curated bookshelves, book events and monthly bookclub. 

In old French, Bouquiniste means ‘Bookseller’, and pays homage to the hundreds of booksellers along
The River Seine in Paris, where all the trinkets that decorate the bookshelves have been collected from.

To Kiama, Bouquiniste means a place where you can enjoy a Brewtown espresso, a local wine,
listen to some good ole Rock’n’Roll and pick up all the best books.

If this sounds like a place that interests you, we invite you to come play on the shop floor with us.