Smash Toast, a retro-inspired sandwich shop steeped in late-1990s and early-2000s flair, has quietly slipped a surprise into its new West Abram Street location in Arlington. Tucked behind a disguised bookshelf in the dining room sits Folklore Grove, a tiny independent bookstore that turns a simple lunch run into a browse-and-bite situation. The mash-up aims to be a true third space, pairing nostalgic comfort-food sandwiches with indie-bookstore coziness, and early visitors say the combo lands somewhere between after-school snack time and a hidden literary hangout.
Opening this week in Arlington, Smash Toast leans hard into “mom-made” classics like peanut butter & jelly, grilled cheese and a roster of what the shop dubs “delicious melts,” according to CW33. The shop also pours coffee and bakes its own bread in-house, selling full loaves through a partnership with Adams Family Farm, The Shorthorn reports.
Inside the secret bookstore
Folklore Grove is hidden behind a bookshelf door and stocks folklore, fantasy and other off-the-beaten-path titles, with a particular focus on disability representation and a dedicated section for local authors, according to Folklore Grove. Owner Kait Thibeaux raised roughly $4,000 through a community fundraiser to help purchase books and shelving, then set aside two full bookcases for about two dozen local writers to showcase their work, Shelf Awareness notes.
Menu and retro vibe
The dining room leans into nostalgia with zero subtlety: skateboards line the wall, a stash of VHS tapes sits near the register and a mural styled like an old-school TV carries the neon phrase “It’s Not a Phase.” The look is part of owner Bobby King’s plan to build a slightly grungy Y2K-flavored third space, The Shorthorn reports. King teamed up with local artist Wren Martin on the mural, sends to-go orders out in brown paper bags and built the menu around simple, comforting flavors meant to feel like home.
Where to find it
Smash Toast and its hidden Folklore Grove bookstore share a storefront on West Abram Street in Arlington, with mapping listings placing the business at 2410 W Abram St., Suite 116, per MapQuest. Both the sandwich shop and the secret book nook are currently open to walk-ins, and the owners say they hope the unusual pairing becomes a hub for readers, creators and neighbors alike, according to CW33.
