Ravenna Third Place Books recently went through a major overhaul, redesigning its interior layout and creating a brand-new space for a branch of Vios, the popular Greek café on Capitol Hill. The effect is breathtaking. Private little nooks and crannies among the orderly maze of bookshelves. A well-lit gathering of chairs and tables, perfect for snacking, reading and daydreaming.

But the best news is that Ravenna Third Place’s sales are UP. By at least six percent.

Why?

Aside from the new layout, the staff makes the effort to learn customers’ names, to remember their literary preferences, and to just build community.

Community. Maybe this is what we’re hungering for now.