Meet Brittany (Founder/Owner)/ Amie (Co-Owner) Smith / Waltzer | Founder and Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brittany (Founder/Owner)/ Amie (Co-Owner) Smith / Waltzer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brittany (Founder/Owner)/ Amie (Co-Owner), can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always loved books and not just reading them but the process of selecting the book itself. As a kid, I would brows the bookshelves forever and I just loved being inside a bookstore. There is something very soothing to me about bookstores. Avondale didn’t have a bookstore at the time and I wanted to bring that to our city. I started off very small and steadily grew and we continue to grow.

Bookstores are really more than just books of the shelf, they also act as a third space in communities, where we’re not just a place to shop but also a place to gather and hold literary events and discussions.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Brittany’s Answer:
The Book Bird is an independent bookstore that offers a variety of book titles and programming. We see ourselves as that third space in peoples life giving you a little room for self-care and conversation, and a place for imagination to grow. I founded the bookstore in 2023 as a single propietor and in 2024, I brought on a partner, Amie Waltzer, as we look to expand our business into our future space at The Dale in Avondale Estates. What makes me most proud about the Book Bird is how we have built and established a space where everyone is welcome and our intent with every event we host (and everyday shopping experience, for that matter) is to bring a unique, enriching experience that is inclusive for everyone.

We offer monthly Open Mic Poetry, Children’s Story Time in English and Spanish, author events and book signings, and book clubs. In addition to our regular events, we strive to host interesting and topical special events at the Book Bird. Last October, we invited a clinical psychologist and a horror writer/producer/director to discuss “Why do we like to be scared?” and this May, we will be hosting a panel discussion on child, teen, and adult mental health, complete with therapists and experts to highlight mental health awareness month. We curate a selection of relevant titles for each event so each guest has the opportunity to bring a book home on the topic. We typically do 4-5 special events a year, so there are many opportunities to join us!
We’re also really proud of our curated titles of books and offer new releases, up and coming and local author selections, children/young adult titles, as well as poetry! We offer fiction, fantasy, and cooking book clubs and are looking to expand into even more genres in the near future. Book clubs are an amazing way to establish belonging, and we would love to help connect anyone with these little literary communities.

Our brand represents community gathering and the exchange of ideas through books. Our mission is to showcase and bring the world of books to more people in our world. Our tag-line is “Read And Take Flight!” because books can take you anywhere you want. We hope you can come visit and find that inspiration to explore and find the joy of reading.

Some lessons I’ve learned along the way are to listen, work hard, stand-up for yourself, and do what you think is right for you and those around you. If you can have grounding in that, good things will come from it.

Amie’s Answer:
Here’s what I love about The Book Bird. We are not perfect, and we are honest about that. We are always learning and changing. In the book industry, you have to be able to pivot and change according to readers’ habits and the world environment as a whole. We pivot A LOT, we change how our shelves are arranged, we present new events, etc all based on what we think people want in that moment. We have an established brand, but I view that brand as the friend of the community, and the friend of the community figures out how to support it in whatever way possible without a formula.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Brittany:

This is a great question! We’d start by stopping in The Book Bird, as I can’t resist a visit to a bookstore! There are so many great indie bookstores in the Atlanta area. And we would have to tour the food scene. Breakfast at Leftie Lee’s for cinnamon rolls or a Cali-burrito. A stroll on the BeltLine and dine at Superica or Ladybird Café.

For drinks and light bites, we’d hit up Commune in Avondale or Kimball House in Decatur for some of the best craft cocktails around.

I’m a big fan of Atlanta sports—whether it’s the Hawks, Atlanta United, or the Falcons, we’d have to catch a game.

A visit to the High Museum of Art would be on the agenda and we would have to check out the city’s local art venues and attend one of ABV’s Drink and Doodle events. Or we’d check out the gallery at the Avondale Art Center.

We’d wrap up our Atlanta favorites with a storytelling event at The Moth.

Amie’s answer-
Obviously, a book store tour would be #1! There are so many great ones just in the Atlanta area, let alone outside the perimeter. I would definitely suggest Ponce City Market, the Emory campus (I’m biased as an alum!), grab drinks at Commune or Lucian Books & Wine, a coffee at Perc or Radio Roasters, see a show at the Eastern, grab a beer at Wild Heaven!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Brittany’s answer:
My shoutout goes to my husband, Michael. Starting a business from the ground up is exciting, challenging, scary, and time-consuming. On top of that, we juggle full lives—not just with our careers, but as parents to three amazing kids. Through it all, Michael is always in my corner. He encourages me and truly supports this journey. He’s also an incredible and very present dad. I have many shoutouts to some seriously supportive and amazing people, including my kids, but this one got to Michael.

Amie’s answer:
For me, it’s Brittany herself! She has built an incredible community through The Book Bird and I’m exciting to continue this journey with her. I personally couldn’t have done this without the support of my family and my husband – who all encouraged me that it’s my turn to do something I’m passionate about. My kids inspire me to be more, do more, and reach for things I would not have previously thought possible.

Website: hello@thebook-bird.com

Instagram: thebookbirdae

Facebook: thebookbird

Image Credits
Jessica Galindo