Staunton's Book Dragon celebrating 5 years; Verona Starbucks full steam ahead

Staunton bookstore celebrating milestone

STAUNTON — The Book Dragon Shop Celebrates its fifth anniversary this Friday, July 5.

Since its founding in 2019, The Book Dragon Shop has been committed to promoting literacy, supporting local authors, and creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels at home. To celebrate this significant milestone, the store is offering a Book Dragon purple mini tote with a $25 purchase and a galley with $25 purchase. The Book Dragon Shop will host drawings and giveaways throughout the day Friday. There will be free goodie bags for children, exclusive in-store promotions and free items while auantities last.

"We are incredibly grateful to our loyal customers and the community for their unwavering support over the past five years," said Sandi Cararo, owner of The Book Dragon Shop. "This anniversary is not just a celebration of our success, but also a celebration of the wonderful community that has made it all possible. We look forward to many more years of serving book lovers and continuing to grow together."

The Book Dragon Shop is a female and veteran owned independent bookstore located at 102 W. Beverley St. in Staunton.

Verona Starbucks is full steam ahead

VERONA — As work continues on the new Starbucks in Verona, a spokesperson for the coffee corporation told The News Leader it would be opening "during the fall of 2024."

While the exterior appears to be mostly complete, the inside still had a gravel floor as of last week. The store is located at 30 Lodge Lane, next to the new Arby's that opened at the end of December.

There are currently two Starbucks in Staunton, one in Stuarts Draft and one in Waynesboro, plus the Starbucks location inside of Waynesboro's Target. A Verona store will give the area six Starbucks within 15 miles of one another.

— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com