Downtown Rolla is about to get a new kind of hangout: Bookmark This Bar, a "boozy bookstore" that plans to mix carefully curated shelves, intimate author events, and evening cocktails under one roof on Pine Street. The concept also comes with a short-term loft rental right above the shop, so visitors can literally sleep over the stacks in the heart of downtown.
The shop is owned by Jamie and Ryan Cheek, who moved to Rolla in 2022 and describe the project as a place built for conversation and community, according to Bookshop.org. Their listing notes the store will stock both new and used titles, with a staff-curated lineup that leans into romantasy, fantasy, and psychological thrillers. While they finish out the space, the couple has been testing the concept with pop-up events around town.
According to NewPages, Bookmark This Bar will occupy the storefront at 711 N. Pine Street and is aiming for a February 2026 opening window. As work continued on the interior, the shop hosted a public pop-up in December, Phelps County Focus reported, and the paper noted the Cheeks expect the space to be ready for a grand opening in February.
Behind the bookshelves, the back of the shop will hide a full-service bar pouring literary-themed cocktails. St. Louis Public Radio reports that early menu items already have names, including the Plot Thickens (bourbon and peach schnapps) and the Meet Cute (vodka with strawberry syrup and lime). The Cheeks say the drinks are designed to complement, not overshadow, the books, per Bookshop.org, with the goal of creating a low-key, inviting space for both readers and writers.
Upstairs, the building’s short-term rental, dubbed "The Bookend," gives guests a themed overnight option perched above the shop, Phelps County Focus reports. The paper notes the 125-year-old building mostly needed cosmetic work, and the renovation includes 10-foot-tall bookshelves and a custom-built bar to anchor the main floor.
A national trend with local roots
Bookstore-bars, where the space shifts from quiet browsing by day to clinking glasses at night, have become a go-to model for independent shops trying to diversify revenue and host more community events. Eater profiled Denver’s BookBar and other early pioneers of the format, and trade coverage since has tracked similar openings across cities big and small. The Cheeks say they hope their own hybrid spot, with daytime browsing and evening programming, will help anchor Pine Street’s downtown scene.
For updates on the official opening date and upcoming book clubs, the shop’s event notices and links are being posted on local listings and its Bookshop.org page. The store’s entry on NewPages also tracks key details, while St. Louis Public Radio offers more on the Cheeks’ plans and the early buzz from the community.
