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Krista Lochren had always dreamed of owning a bookstore. Now, that dream has come to life — right inside a building she’s been eyeing since she was a kid.
The Sound Beach native grew up in Port Jefferson Station and remembers passing 157 North Country Road in Mount Sinai, the longtime home of The Gift Corner. After more than 30 years, the beloved home goods store closed in November 2024. When Lochren saw the “for sale” sign, she immediately picked up the phone and called her husband.
“I would always drive past this building and everything I thought to myself, ‘I would make it so cute … I could do so much with it if someone would just give me control,’” she said.
Lochren had been on the hunt for a fresh start after leaving her job in late 2023. When her husband asked what she wanted to do next, she said she’d love to open a bookstore. His response: “Why not?”
She started scouting for locations across Long Island, almost committing to a spot in Patchogue. But then fate stepped in — and the little Mount Sinai storefront from her childhood became available.
“It’s actually perfect,” she said. “So, we made the decision to go for it.”
Cozy retreat
After officially closing on the property in December 2024, Lochren and her crew spent six months transforming the old space. They replaced the floors, redid the ceiling, and gave everything a fresh coat of paint.
“All of our friends were here helping us paint,” she said. “And 98% of renovations was with friends and family.”
The result is Book and Mortar, which officially opened in June and has been buzzing ever since. But don’t expect to find textbooks or crossword puzzles on the shelves. This shop is all about fiction.
“We have chosen to focus on all fiction because I just feel like the world is very stressful and there’s enough bad out there,” Lochren said. “So that’s why I made the motto, ‘a literary escape’ because it’s a place to go to and forget what’s going on in the world.”
That means no politics, no war stories, no true crime — even though Lochren herself is a big fan of the genre. Still, she can order anything by request.
Beyond the books, the shop also serves tea and snacks and offers plenty of comfy vintage chairs and couches to sit and stay awhile. The goal: to create a space where people can relax, unplug and connect.
A community space
Lochren is also turning Book and Mortar into a true community space. Already, they’ve hosted crochet classes, tarot card workshops and — of course — book clubs.
“Everybody was coming in and asking if we were going to do a book club,” she said. “There’s really not a lot up here.”
Their first club filled up instantly. When the waitlist maxed out, too, they added a second group.
“We’re comfy and cozy,” Lochren said. “It’s a good place to work, hang out and meet people.”
Top: Krista Lochren and her dog, Bones, at her Book and Mortar store in Mt. Sinai. (Credit: Julianne Mosher/GLI)
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