How Marigold’s Bookstore is writing its next chapter

Andy Dossett | The Wiley Post
July 16, 2026

Step through the front doors of Marigold's Bookstore these days and you'll probably find someone curled up with a novel, a pair of friends debating their latest read or a customer asking for their next favorite book.

That's exactly what sisters Kandelyne Wingate and Katie Taylor hoped would happen.

Less than two years after opening their independent bookstore, the pair has outgrown their original 900-square-foot shop on Second Street and moved into a much larger downtown space overlooking Bartlesville's main streets. The new location has room for more books, comfortable seating and, perhaps most importantly, room for the community they've been trying to build since day one.

Kandelyne Wingate sits behind the counter at Marigold Bookstore in downtown Bartlesville.
Andy Dossett | The Wiley Post

"We wanted the community from it," Wingate said. "We wanted a space where somebody could come in, sit, work or share a conversation about a story they loved."

That vision has resonated.

Since moving into the new storefront this spring, Wingate said foot traffic has increased dramatically. Visitors wander in after spotting the bookstore's large windows, while regulars linger over coffee, read in oversized chairs or spend lunch breaks working from the shop.

“Katie and I looked at each other that first week after reopening and thought, 'It's happening,’” Wingate recalled. "People were bringing their computers in and just staying — that's exactly what we wanted."

More than a bookstore

In an era dominated by online shopping and overnight delivery, opening an independent bookstore might seem like an unlikely business plan.

For Wingate, that's exactly why it works.

"People want community," she said. "They want a third space where they can spend their time meaningfully."

That philosophy shapes nearly every part of Marigold's. Wingate and Taylor pride themselves on remembering customers by name, recommending books tailored to individual readers and creating a welcoming atmosphere where visitors don't feel rushed to make a purchase.

"We're just a couple of gals out here slinging books," Wingate said with a laugh. "The people who walk through our doors are the reason this exists."

The sisters carefully curate every shelf, often choosing titles because they know a particular customer will enjoy them. Special orders arrive weekly, and Wingate estimates she fills around dozens of custom requests every week while constantly adding new releases and hidden gems.

Local readers have embraced everything from literary fiction to sprawling fantasy series. Wingate said one of the bookstore's most requested titles in recent months has been "Theo of Golden," while fantasy fans continue devouring Matt Dinniman's wildly popular "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series.

A place to gather

The bookstore has also become a social hub.

Its monthly book club draws readers from across the area for an evening of conversation, pizza and lively debate. Rather than formal literary analysis, Wingate prefers discussions that feel like friends sitting around a table.

"I love it when somebody hates the book," she said. "Tell me why — that's what makes book club fun."

The next club selection is Homer's "The Odyssey" in Emily Wilson's translation, with discussion scheduled for Aug. 29. Future selections rotate through different genres, giving readers a chance to explore everything from horror and fantasy to classics.

Kandelyne Wingate holds a copy of The Odyssey, the next selection for Marigold Bookstore's monthly book club, inside the downtown Bartlesville shop.
Andy Dossett | The Wiley Post

Beyond the book club, Wingate said one of her favorite sights is watching people simply exist in the space — students studying, remote workers typing away on laptops and families discovering the wardrobe entrance leading into the children's reading room inspired by "The Chronicles of Narnia."

"It's magical," she said. "Stories let you step into another world for a while and we wanted this place to feel like that."

Oklahoma authors take center stage

That sense of community will be on full display Saturday when Marigold's hosts Hooked and Booked, a free event celebrating Oklahoma authors.

The event runs from noon to 4 p.m. and will feature 20 authors from across the state signing books, meeting readers and talking about their work. Several Bartlesville-area writers will also participate, giving visitors the opportunity to discover local talent alongside authors from throughout Oklahoma.

Admission is free, although attendees are encouraged to reserve a ticket online to help organizers estimate attendance. More than 300 people had already registered as of this week.

For Wingate, the event is another step toward the dream she and her sister imagined over coffee before Marigold's ever existed.

The Marigold Bookstore logo welcomes readers to the independent bookstore at 308 S. Johnstone Ave. in downtown Bartlesville.
Andy Dossett | The Wiley Post

The sisters named the bookstore after the marigold, October's birth flower, honoring the month in which they both celebrate their birthdays. Today, that name has become synonymous with something larger than a bookstore.

Their ambitions continue to grow. Wingate hopes to eventually expand into the rest of the building, add more shelving and create even more gathering spaces for the community.

For now, though, she's content watching people walk through the front door, settle into a chair and lose themselves in a good story.

"I have a cool job," she said. "I get to talk to people about books every day. It really was the dream."