By Jeanni Ritchie
A new chapter is about to open in Pineville — one written over coffee mugs, laughter, and the kind of conversations that feel like home. Hemingway House of Stories & Spirits is the latest addition to historic Main Street, a place where books meet beverages and where the walls themselves whisper stories of second chances.
Co-owners Bonnie White and John Robertson have transformed an aging brick storefront into something that feels both timeless and new. Their dream is simple yet profound: to build a home for readers, dreamers, and neighbors to share stories over a good book and a good drink.
As a former English teacher and lifelong book lover, Bonnie calls herself a “persistent romantic who runs on when, not if.” She doesn’t just mean that about love or literature — she means it about community. “My dad had a heart for people and service,” she said. “He taught me to love our neighbors. Hemingway House isn’t just about what’s on the shelves or behind the bar — it’s about creating space for real connection. All talk, no tech.”
I had a similar upbringing that developed my love of community as well.
Every inch of Hemingway is loaded with memory and meaning. The lights strung throughout the room once illuminated the former Masonic Home for Children. The bricks forming the double-walled bar were salvaged from a fire that destroyed 705 Main Street across the road. Inside the double-walled bar top, handwritten notes are sealed away — a secret between the owners and the building itself — a tangible reminder that stories live even in silence.
And yet, not all secrets will stay hidden. Fans of Hemingway and Fitzgerald will recognize literary Easter eggs tucked throughout the space — from subtle Gatsby glimmers to Hemingway’s rugged soul etched into the décor.
When I visited the new space, I shared my own Hemingway story with John and Bonnie. A few years ago, when I moved back to Alexandria during a difficult season, I kept a note on my phone titled “Hemingway and Me.” It was filled with free verse and quatrains — raw passages that helped me process inky darkness through words. My philosophy was just as dark: by putting my pain into words instead of letting it rattle around in my head, I avoided the fate — not of Ophelia — but of Hemingway.
That conversation reminded me that what Bonnie is creating isn’t just a business — it’s a sanctuary. A place where stories can be told, souls can exhale, and creativity can quietly bloom in the company of kindred spirits.
The rendering above shows the dream realized: a painted mural along the green space between Hemingway House and the Pineville Community Center, a place designed for open-air readings, small concerts, and morning coffees beneath the trees. The real-life build is still in progress, but the bones are strong — and the heart behind it even stronger.
After visiting, my mother and I gathered books for the final Books for Brews donation drive on November 15, forty gently used books from our personal shelves. Both of us are lifelong readers, and the idea of giving our books new life in a place like this is special. Proudly joining the Founders Club — supporting a local business and helping write a new chapter for our town — has become a sweet bonding moment.
Hemingway House’s Founders Club offers several ways to get involved:
• Brews for Books ($25+) adds your name to the Friends of Hemingway wall and earns you a preview-night invitation.
• Ink & Paper ($99+) includes a founders’ plaque engraving and exclusive bookmark.
• Quill & Spirits ($250+) members receive all of the above, plus a founders’ mug, a “first pour free” chip for opening night, and event discounts.
Those wanting to contribute can find the full campaign on Indiegogo: indiegogo.com/en/
If all goes according to plan, Hemingway House of Stories & Spirits will open its doors in time for the Pineville Christmas Parade on December 12. When it does, it won’t just pour lattes or cocktails. It will pour connection.
