Brian Lampkin and Scuppernong Books: Making More than a Bookstore

  Brian Lampkin is the owner of Scuppernong Books in Greensboro. His store sells books, wine, beer, snacks, and does many community events. WFDD Radio Camper Dylan Naessig asks him questions about his bookstore.

On a bright sunny day at Founders Hall at Guilford College, I met Brian Lampkin. He was wearing a simple suit and he had a big smile on his face. I asked him how Scuppernong Books came to be. 

Really just out of a conversation with a friend of mine, and we just said, hey, why don't we open a bookstore? From that little kernel, it grew into this very massive project in downtown Greensboro.

I then asked Brian why he chose to use the name Scuppernong for his store.

It is, in fact, our state fruit, the Scuppernong grape. We were looking for something specifically North Carolina that didn't have any baggage. Something that was identified with North Carolina, but not identified in ways that we weren't happy with.

I then gave him this question: what other things do you sell at your bookstore?

An independent bookstore is a risky business, so we thought we'd add another risky business, so we have a little restaurant in there and a wine bar. We have a full coffee bar, wine and beer, and a kitchen, that we offer sandwiches and other tasty treats.

Right now, Brian is writing a book of his own. He's looking for a home for it on his shelves. You can learn more at his store at www.scuppernongbooks.com. 

For 88.5 WFDD Radio Camp, I'm Dylan Naessig.