The Snail on the Wall bookstore threw itself a double birthday party this past weekend, and Huntsville book lovers turned out to celebrate.

The independent shop, founded by Lady Smith, first launched in 2016 as a “bookstore without a store,” popping up at markets and online before opening its brick-and-mortar location on Wellman Avenue in Five Points in 2024.

This year marked two milestones: eight years since its launch and one year in its physical space. The store celebrated September 26–27 with activities, raffle prizes, and a special “Snail Brew” coffee created for the occasion by Coffee Break.

For Smith, seeing the shop thrive in its first year downtown was more rewarding than she imagined.

“It has exceeded our expectations. The community support has been amazing,” she said. “I think Huntsville was ready for an independent bookstore downtown, and they’ve come out and shown us a lot of love.”

Both Smith and co-owner Christina Tabereaux said the highlight of the year has been building relationships with readers.

“Every day feels like something to learn, which is part of the fun and the challenge of it,” Tabereaux said. “Customers have become true friends — we see them every week, we know their reading preferences, and we know which authors they’ll be excited about. That’s been really special.”

The Snail on the Wall has also branched out beyond books. Its “Snail’s Case” events have featured crafting, birding, and even letter writing.

“We were surprised how many people just wanted a place to gather, meet new friends, and connect,” Smith said. “That’s been really rewarding.”

Regular customer Kerri Ambrose said the shop has added something unique to the Five Points neighborhood.

“I like it because it is small, and everyone is helpful in here, and it’s in a nice area,” Ambrose said. “I’ve just enjoyed the times that I’ve been able to come.”

Looking ahead, the co-owners said they hope to keep building momentum. Plans include expanding author events, starting a book club, growing school partnerships, and possibly launching a loyalty program.

“Definitely not business as usual,” Smith said. “We have more ideas than time and energy.”

“We’ve worked really hard at events this past year,” Tabereaux added, “but we have even greater aspirations — more author events and more gatherings in general.”

At its core, the bookstore remains focused on its mission of connecting readers.

“The Snail on the Wall is all about bringing readers together to learn, enjoy great discussions, and have fun,” Tabereaux said.