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Nikki Parnell had always dreamed of creating a space that celebrated books, community, and a little bit of magic — a place that felt safe, inclusive, and full of wonder. But she didn’t want the limits of a traditional storefront.
So, alongside her wife, Christy Vigliotte, she decided to hit the road instead.
Earlier this fall, the Centereach couple launched Virgo Rising, a mobile bookstore and apothecary-style boutique that’s been turning heads everywhere it parks.
“I’ve always loved books, witches and I’ve always been very entrepreneurial,” Parnell said. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business, so I thought what better way to own a store and not have to do the overhead of a brick and mortar?”
The inspiration struck after seeing similar concepts online.
“They have been popping up all over the country,” Parnell said. “And there were none here. I hadn’t seen anything like this before.”
That’s when she turned to her wife and said, “What do you think about opening up a mobile book shop?”
The rest, as they say, was one for the history books.
“She’s so supportive,” Parnell said about Vigliotte, a U.S. veteran who works in aviation and is originally from Salem, Massachusetts. “She didn’t even blink — she just said, ‘Absolutely. Let’s do it.’”
Built from scratch
Parnell, who comes from a corporate training background, found the trailer on Facebook Marketplace, and Vigliotte went to work transforming the inside.
The once-empty contractor trailer soon became a walk-in boutique on wheels — complete with wallpaper, shelves, and cozy lighting — all built in just four weeks.
“Christy can literally build anything,” Parnell said. “So, I had the design, and she had the building expertise, and we built this thing from the ground up.”
Step inside
The matte-black trailer hitches to the back of their truck and opens to reveal a small but thoughtfully curated space. White shelves line the walls, filled with best-sellers, children’s books, jewelry, and candles from small-batch makers.
They laid down a wooden floor, added warm lighting, and often set up extra items for sale outside — like handmade wreaths Parnell and her mom crafted “while listening to Stevie Nicks.”
“It’s been a labor of love,” she said.
The vibe leans “local pagan chic,” with just the right amount of witchy energy — perfect for the Halloween season.
“It’s something different and of course it has the witchy vibes because that’s who I am,” Parnell said, adding that she adores Practical Magic and aspires to be the main character, Sally Owens.
But Virgo Rising isn’t just for spooky season — the couple plans to deck it out for November and December to capture the holiday spirit.
On the road
Since launching in August, Virgo Rising has been popping up across Long Island — at breweries, wineries, festivals, and private events. They’ve also made stops in the Hudson Valley and Salem, as well as Port Jefferson’s Witches Day Out and other local harvest fests.
“We like to partner with different businesses or can even come to your house for a lady’s night or a book club meeting,” Parnell said. “It’s a different, unique experience.”
Next up, the duo is hosting their own fall festival, Spirits and Stories, on Nov. 8 (rain date Nov. 9) at P&A Park in Deer Park from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The free event will feature mobile bar The Golden Pour and other seasonal vendors. They can also be found Halloween night (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.) at Nightfaire on Sound Ave at the Jamesport Brewery.
“I love it,” said Vigliotte. “It really has been amazing … I’ve met so many people already in just a short time.”
Booked and busy
Though small, the shop packs plenty of personality — and a fast-changing inventory. Parnell keeps up with the latest “BookTok” and Instagram trends, and often takes recommendations from her customers.
“As far as the energy we’ve created, I think it just brings so much joy,” Parnell said. “I think people feel safe, they feel wonder, they feel magic, they feel inspired and that’s what I want people to feel when they come in … It’s that wow factor.”
To see where Virgo Rising will park next, follow them on Instagram at @VirgoRisingBooks.
— all photos by Julianne Mosher
