On September 3, 2025, Protagonist Books and Coffee opened its doors to the downtown Dryden community. Owned and operated by married couple Amber and Sam Gellar-Smith, the woman-owned, queer-owned, and author-owned bookshop reflects their shared passion for literature and community. The store primarily features adult fiction, complemented by a smaller yet diverse selection of children’s, young adult, and nonfiction books.
The Gellar-Smiths initially planned to open a bookstore in their retirement, but due to the increasingly divided political climate, they decided to bring their vision to life sooner than expected. “We needed to be a part of the fight to maintain human rights and decency,” they asserted, “because putting books in hands and giving readers the materials that are being hidden, maligned, and banned is our way to fight for ourselves and others.”
The bookstore is designed to be a “third space,” away from work and home, that fosters community through storytelling. One wall features bookshelves, while the opposite side hosts a coffee bar featuring baked goods from local shops. At the front, a dedicated display showcases books by local authors. The Gellar-Smiths envision further renovations to the front porch and basement to create more seating or a performance space, reinforcing their hope “to have community members feel like they too have a stake in the store, and that they are welcome.”
The store seems to have been received warmly by the Dryden community. Protagonist Books and Coffee gained support from the Small Business Development Center and the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, as well as small businesses like Connected Stitches, June’s, and Copper Horse. Most importantly, they received a “massive outpouring of community support” from customers all over Tompkins County and beyond. “We could not feel more at home in Dryden,” the Gellar-Smiths gushed.
Protagonist Books and Coffee is open for business from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. To support the business, visit them at 8 West Main Street in Dryden, buy books from their website, or buy audiobooks from them on Libro.fm. Beyond purchases, locals are encouraged to attend events like Fantasy Friday Knights, a recurring book talk featuring local fantasy authors. The next Fantasy Friday Knight event will take place on October 10 at 5 p.m. and will feature A.M. Leonard (The Lunatics: Hunter’s Moon) and H.R. Cole (Chains of Fate: Daughter of the Void).