Daydream is a romance bookstore/coffee shop in the heart of Arlington featuring local goods and steamy reads.
Alma Sardas dreamed of opening her own romance bookstore for years. She knew she wanted to combine her love of reading with her passion for good coffee, and thus the idea for Daydream was born. “I’ve always loved bookstores and coffee shops individually, but I didn’t see many spaces that fully leaned into a specific genre and created an immersive experience around it,” Sardas said. She added that she wanted to create a space “that felt intentional, cozy, and unique,” that was reminiscent of the whimsical vibes in some of her favorite stories. When you step into Daydream, you feel this inspiration everywhere.
Located at 380 E. Front St., Suite 110 in Arlington, the bookstore/coffee shop features a collection of romance novels carefully selected by Sardas. She made sure to include a variety of subgenres within that field—like LGBTQIA+, cowboy romance, romantasy (romance + fantasy), and dark fantasy, among others—to appeal to a broad range of local readers. Sardas is hopeful that her space will also give younger people in the area a safe space to unwind, unplug, and connect with their community. “I think naturally younger people are going to start gravitating towards books again and the fun escapism that comes with it, rather than the never-ending vicious cycle of comparing themselves to their digital life”, she told CultureMap.
Another way she’s hoping to cultivate a sense of community? By hosting book clubs and other themed events to encourage discussions with like-minded individuals. Daydream will also look to hold midnight release parties for select titles as well as author signings. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Daydream is closed on Mondays.
Sardas created the coffee shop’s menu herself
Not only did Alma Sardas come up with the concept for Daydream and bring it to fruition, but she also created the coffee shop’s menu herself from scratch. She has Mexican and Cuban heritage, and she credits her Cuban father with teaching her the best way to make espresso. Drawing on both cultures, Sardas crafted her menu to include Cafecito (Cuban coffee), Americanos, lattes, chai, matchas, and speciality drinks like The Havanna, which is a dulce de leche flavored latte inspired by her mother’s Mexican lineage.
The coffee served at Daydream is sourced from a women and veteran-owned company called Alma Coffee—no, it’s not Sardas’s own brand but instead a matter of happenstance. The pastries served daily are straight from La Casita Bakeshop in Richardson. You can choose from a variety of muffins, croissants, cookies, and cinnamon rolls to accompany your coffee and your next great read. Speaking about the store’s opening, Sardas said, “It truly is a dream — We are excited to be open and ready to be a stop for the Arlington community and beyond.” The endeavor is a point of pride for her, and for her mother, Claudia Sardas, who said that Alma always “loved to read.” Claudia said her daughter told her she’d have her own coffee shop one day, and now Alma is proving just how important it is to follow your dreams. Or, well, your daydreams.
