BUNNELL, Fla. – There’s something undeniably special about a locally owned bookstore that invites you to slow down, sit for a while, and let your imagination roam. Whether you’re eagerly diving into the next installment of your favorite series or stumbling upon a new literary voice, stepping into a space like The BookMark’It feels like walking into a curated adventure — a world of possibilities just waiting to be explored.
Reading as a Foundation
On Saturday, The BookMark’It celebrated its grand opening inside Poppy’s True Market, with three generations of the Sanhudo family among the first to explore the cozy, book-filled space.
Maria Lavin-Sanhudo, President of the Flagler County Education Foundation and a lifelong literacy advocate, browsed the shelves alongside her daughter Morgan Sanhudo and granddaughter Abigail Purvis-Sanhudo.
“They absolutely love books and when I heard about this, we just had to be here,” Lavin-Sanhudo said. “Reading, it’s so important. With her, she didn’t know how to read but she would open books and pretend to read them. At seven years old, she’s a great reader now.”
“I hope people come here and see how beautiful and adorable this bookstore is,” she added. “This is truly a special place.”
A Dream Realized
The dream behind The BookMark’It belongs to Julie Hald and her daughter Abigail Hald. When a space opened up at Poppy’s True Market, the two jumped at the opportunity to transform their growing pop-up book business into a brick-and-mortar destination.
“I’ve pretty much wanted to own a used bookstore since I was in high school,” said Julie, who once worked at the Flagler County Public Library on weekends to feed her love of books. “I’ve just always loved the idea of books.”
Abigail, now market manager at Poppy’s True Market, had long encouraged her mom to take the leap.
“We started doing pop ups and it just grew and grew,” Julie shared. “When this room became available, Chelsea [Herbert, the owner of Poppy’s True Market] asked if we would be interested in doing it as a bookstore. We just had to do it. It’s like a dream come true for our daughter and I. Doing it together is just so amazing and it’s really brought us closer together.”
Abigail echoed the sentiment. “I felt like it was all falling into place the way it was meant to be,” she said.
A Cozy Community Hub
With its inviting Victorian Sherlock Holmes-meets-Clue vibe, complete with plush chairs and views of Bunnell’s main street, the space was designed to encourage lingering.
“I hope they go make a cup of coffee or tea up front and come sit,” said Julie. “I just wanted it to be really inviting.”
The inventory includes everything from literary classics and gripping mysteries to teen must-haves and early readers. But the real magic lies in the personal touch — especially for those up for a little literary adventure.
“Surprise Me!”
Julie, a longtime educator, has witnessed the transformative power of books firsthand. That experience inspired two of the store’s most whimsical features: Blind Date with a Book and Surprise Stories — mysterious, pre-wrapped books in brown paper bags, chosen to surprise and delight.
“That’s why we do the Surprise Stories,” Julie explained. “I’ve seen kids come to the different markets that I do and see those, and get excited about reading. Parents come back to me saying they never wanted to pick up a book but this got them excited about reading.”
Morgan Sanhudo was particularly drawn to the Blind Date with a Book idea. “It’s cool. I think a lot of people may not intentionally do it, but sometimes you can totally judge a book by its cover. I think this is a way where you don’t see that, and all the cute things with it too, and you can just enjoy it,” she said.
Morgan also expressed excitement about future community programming. “I think reading takes you into a whole different world where you can forget about your reality for a little bit and dive deeper into somebody else’s, enjoy it and kind of see what happens,” she said, adding that she’d love to attend Mommy and Me events with her daughter.
A Personalized Experience
For many visitors, the appeal of The BookMark’It lies in the thoughtful, personal atmosphere that stands in contrast to the sprawl of chain bookstores.
During the grand opening, David Denvir and Kim Ertelt dropped in and asked about a specific title. They were struck by how well Julie knew her inventory — and impressed that she immediately offered to track down the book for them.
“Every community should have a nice, warm, friendly place like this instead of just the big box stores where you’re overwhelmed by the books there,” said Denvir.
“It’s very important because people love to read,” added Ertelt. “This is kind of a retirement area, there’s a lot of books being read.”
The BookMark’It is located in Poppy’s True Market, 802 E. Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Florida. For inquiries, call 386-569-0373 or email thebookmarkit.bunnell@gmail.com.
