The Painted Porch Bookshop in Bastrop isn’t your typical bookstore. Sure, it has all the books you’d expect, but it also has a live tree growing right in the middle of the store, a giant fireplace made entirely of books, and two adorable cats who greet every visitor like old friends.
But the real story isn’t what’s inside – it’s how this dream became reality.
How a Wild Idea Became Main Street Magic
Back in 2019, Ryan Holiday was tired of living in Bastrop County but commuting to Austin and started searching for office space when his wife Samantha had a wild notion: “She saw this amazing building and said, ‘What if that was your office and we opened a bookstore underneath?'”
Most people would have laughed off the idea. Ryan and Samantha didn’t just consider it – they opened The Painted Porch Book Shop with their entire life savings in a 140-year-old building in a small town outside Austin.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. Or maybe it was perfect.
Opening During the Worst Possible Time
As Ryan wrote, “When you tell people you’re thinking about opening a bookstore, they’re quick to respond, I’ve always wanted to do that. It’s every book lover’s fantasy. Yet nothing can quite prepare you for the reality of starting any business, even under normal conditions. Certainly, few dreamers think to prepare for the nightmare of a global pandemic that shutters most brick-and-mortar stores.”
But here’s what makes this story incredible: they didn’t just survive the pandemic opening – they thrived. The bookstore became exactly what they envisioned: hosting events, welcoming the community, and creating something genuinely special on Main Street.
What Makes This Place Different
Ryan Holiday isn’t just any bookstore owner – he’s a New York Times #1 bestselling author known for books like “The Obstacle Is the Way” and “The Daily Stoic.” But that’s not what makes The Painted Porch special.
At the Painted Porch, they carry roughly 600 titles. The vast majority of them are not new, but rather perennial sellers of the backlist. Ryan has personally read nearly all of them.
Their philosophy is simple: “We don’t care what’s new or trendy, only what’s amazing. If it’s on our shelves, it’s because we read it and think that you should too.”
From Coast to Coast to Small Town Texas
Ryan and Samantha had been moving with some regularity, first from Los Angeles to New Orleans in 2011. When he published his first book, they relocated to New York because he thought that was simply what writers did.
But something about Bastrop stuck. Maybe it was the 140-year-old building on Main Street, or maybe it was the vision of creating something meaningful in a small Texas town. Either way, they planted roots – literally and figuratively.
More Than Just Books
The Painted Porch isn’t trying to compete with Amazon or big box stores. They’ve created something entirely different: a curated experience where every book has been hand-selected by people who actually read them.
The live tree growing in the middle of the store isn’t just Instagram-worthy (though it definitely is) – it represents growth, permanence, and the kind of organic beauty you can’t manufacture.
The two cats? They’re not just decoration. They’re part of the family, greeting visitors and making everyone feel at home.
And that fireplace made of books? It’s a perfect metaphor for what this place represents: books as warmth, comfort, and community gathering point.
The Bottom Line
As one reviewer put it, the bookshop is “nestled next to the Colorado River and Fisherman’s Park” and represents exactly what Ryan Holiday calls himself: a “professional reader.”
The Painted Porch proves that sometimes the craziest ideas work out best. Ryan and Samantha took their life savings, a pandemic, and a wild dream, and turned it into one of Texas’s most beloved independent bookstores.
Visit them at:
- Address: 912 Main St, Bastrop, TX 78602
- Website: thepaintedporch.com
- Social: @paintedporchbookshop on Instagram
- Facebook: 3,605 likes and growing
Whether you’re looking for your next great read or just want to meet two very friendly cats, The Painted Porch proves that the best stories aren’t always found between book covers – sometimes they’re written by the people brave enough to chase impossible dreams.
