From the floor to the ceiling, books, wooden furniture, soft and warm tones... When you arrive at Hello, you almost forget that it's your first time walking through the doors of this place, given how friendly and familiar the atmosphere is. It only takes a minute and we're already captivated by the smell of freshly ground coffee, the sight of homemade pastries on the counter, the voice of Teddy Swims coming from the speakers, and the dozens of books catching our eye. Right over there is the bookstore area managed by Mehdi, with around 4000 references for both adults and children.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
On the left, a well-filled coffee for mid-morning. You can come here alone, with friends, family, or colleagues to work or simply enjoy one of the many hot drinks on the menu. And the surprises don't stop there! In the basement, offices have been set up to accommodate the eponymous publishing house. An eclectic place, driven by two men, friends since high school and now partners: Guillaume and Nassim. Open since July 2023 for the cafe, and September for the bookstore, this multi-faceted place stands out as the must-visit new address in the Danube district, in the 19th arrondissement.
Bookstore and cafe, a new chapter in the Hello story
Creating a space where the book is registered itself as the "lung of the place", it was the logical continuation of the story. Because Hello, it is above all the foundation of a publishing house, in 2018. The two partners then set themselves the objective of accompanying young authors in their sometimes tumultuous journey.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
« As it is a participatory adventure, the idea is to tell the author that we are going to work together, make the corrections together, think about the cover together, and do the promotion together », Guillaume explains. If the adventure begins with the reprint of his mother's book, soon 500 authors from all over France and the world will join the publishing house. So, « we needed a place where we could put our authors in the spotlight », a meeting place, for book signings and book sales.
Revitalizing the neighborhood
Isn't it risky to open a bookstore in 2023, when the digital world reigns supreme? The different clients come and go to buy the next book which will...
The books that accompany their evenings are proof that it is not. "The book is the first marketing product in France. It is absolutely not dead," says Guillaume.
