A cozy new bookstore has arrived in the Shoppes at East Wind (5768 NY-25A, Wading River).
Little Nook Bookstore, the longtime dream of owner Stephanie DiSanto, officially opened last week in Wading River. The shelves of the small but welcoming shop are lined with a carefully curated selection of titles. While the store was originally set for launch in 2023, DiSanto delayed her plans when she became pregnant with her second child. Now, she’s finally ready to share her love of reading with the community.
“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for so long,” DiSanto says. “I love reading and I feel like that’s what people are looking for these days: a smaller bookstore that’s a small business, not owned by a corporation.”
DiSanto was previously a waitress at the Applebees in Shirley before becoming a stay-at-home mom, and decided to embark on this passion project after being home for four years raising a family.
“I’d been home for the last four years,” she says. “I needed to do something I love, and that’s what pushed me to start my adventure.”
The selection of titles at Little Nook includes a variety of different genres, from fiction to children’s books, as well as some works by local authors including Dayna Bush and Virginia Mary. DiSanto plans to host readings with more local authors in the future.
DiSanto is particularly interested in books for young readers, and she hopes her sons Lucas, 3, and Mason, 4 months, will develop a love of reading.
Lucas already has some favorites and loves going to his mom’s store.
“Lucas really loves the ‘Little Blue Truck’ books [by Alice Schertie] and the ‘No, David!’ books [by David Shannon],” says DiSanto. “He loves books and loves when I read with him. This is definitely a big thing for him. He tells me all the time he wants to ‘go to work.’”
Bibliophiles entering Little Nook can expect a cozy, relaxed browsing experience where they can find recent releases, beloved classics, a coffee and tea station and some comfy chairs to sit and read. Hours are currently evolving as DiSanto juggles caring for two young children and launching a new business, so check out @thelittlenookbookstore on Instagram for up-to-date hours.
