Recently featured in the New York Times, Wild Fig Books & Coffee reopened its doors in August after a decision with extreme romanticism, heartfelt foolishness and the sadomasochism that comes along with paying rent every month according to the store’s owners, artist Ron Davis and author Crystal Wilkinson.

“We want our children and grandchildren to continue to read ink and paper books,” Wilkinson said. “As book lovers and writers and being an artistic couple, of course we jumped at the chance to be brick and mortar bookstore owners.”

The business had previously closed on Valentine’s Day this year after three and a half years in business. The bookshop first opened in June 2011.

“The opening of the second Half Price is what effectively drove us out of the used-book business,” Davis said. “The original Wild Fig was able to maintain itself as a functioning bookshop that housed a multitude of genres and Lexington already has a handful of great, locally owned used-book stores that specialized in certain topics.”

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According to Davis, he and the team at Wild Fig have a great working relationship with other book shop owners in town, who they try to work together with in terms of the specialty of books they stock as to not take business from one another. Other book shops serving the North Limestone community include The Morris Book Shop and Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Davis added that Wild Fig currently carry around 500 new titles and will never carry more than 1500.

The couple reinvented their store to the public using Facebook and Instagram accounts to connect with customers. Wild Fig has created a considerable Instagram following of people keeping up with the store’s Barista Barbie, a character created by Davis.

 “Our Instagram is very popular. We’re writers, so sometimes we luck up and say something witty,” Davis said.

Being one of four coffee shops in a five-block stretch of North Limestone, Wild Fig always has to put forth a good business model and draw customers in with other marketing aids such as hosting events.

“For the upcoming fall and winter, we’re gearing back up with our Sunday Salons and, soon, our Saturday morning children’s time. The first Monday of every month is an open mic series hosted by Affrilachian Poet Jude McPherson, which is beginning to grow,” Davis said.

Although social media helps broadcast the word of their shop, the two want to stay local for their customers and for their community.