MANSFIELD — Growing up surrounded by fantasy and magic didn’t just fuel Chase Beaire’s imagination — it inspired him to open Mansfield’s newest bookstore.
Rose Circle Rare Books, located at 46 West Fourth Street, will celebrate its grand opening on Nov. 29. The store’s name comes from a Beaire’s book club.
From bedtime stories to a world of wonder
Beaire grew up in a creative household, with a father who was both a musician and an artist. This early exposure to the arts also inspired him to pursue music at a young age.
“It was only a few years ago that I got into collecting books,” Beaire said.
His grandmother read him bedtime stories from The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter, tales which left a lasting impression.
“I spent much of my youth daydreaming, pretending I was a real-life wizard at Hogwarts or leading a group of Dwarves on their adventure to The Lonely Mountain. Honestly, not much has changed,” Beaire said.
Creating a sense of magic for the community and transporting them into another world through the pages of a book is Beaire’s ultimate goal. The feeling of magic he often sensed as a kid is something he hopes other people can sense in his store.
“I have always believed magic and whimsy breed youthfulness, adding so much more meaning to life,” he said. “I want to get people excited to read by igniting that childlike sense of wonder within them.”
From rare finds to the unusual and unexplored
Rose Circle Rare Books will offer new, used, vintage and rare books. Donations and trades are welcome. Beaire is also open to sourcing specific books upon request.
“Over the past few years of being a collector, I’ve made some great friendships and connections, which have helped me immensely in curating,” he said.
Among his prized finds is a signed copy of A Book of Stave by Jesse Bransford — number 16 of only 35 copies in existence — which is currently available for purchase.
For now, Beaire plans to cater to a wide range of readers, but his ultimate vision is to feature “anything off the beaten path” — including paranormal, metaphysical and mysterious works. He hopes to eventually deal in antiquarian books and original manuscripts.
“That would be a dream,” he said. “But everything has to start somewhere, and for me, this quaint little bookstore is the launching pad.”
In addition to books, Rose Circle Rare Books will carry crystals, incense, tarot cards and other curiosities. Beaire also welcomes inquiries about hosting book clubs or events.
Bringing magic to Downtown Mansfield
Beaire is excited to join the Downtown Mansfield scene, especially with the ongoing beautification project.
“When I travel to other small towns and cities across the Midwest or surrounding counties, it inspires me with a vision of what Mansfield gets to look forward to,” he said.
“Our space is limited for now, but we hope to expand in the future,” he said. “Creating a sense of community around a love of reading is very important to me.”
Rose Circle Rare Books will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The store will host an all-day Harry Potter marathon on Dec. 5 for the Carousel tree lighting, complete with complimentary Butterbeer and other themed treats.
(Pictures from Rose Circle Rare Books. Credit: Hannah Martin)
