For the first time in decades, there’s a bookstore in downtown East Greenwich. Symposium Books opened its doors last week for what owners are calling a “soft opening,” while inventory is still coming in.

Owner Scott McCullough said it seemed like a natural. He and his wife, Anne Marie Keohane, moved to Rhode Island several years ago, having worked in publishing in New York.

“We were looking to do our own thing,” McCullough said. “Rhode Island really caught our eye.”

They opened Symposium Books on Westminster Street in Providence seven years ago, and another store in Boston three years ago, but they’d also always liked East Greenwich.

“We kept our eyes on East Greenwich,” he said. “East Greenwich had great schools, an educated public and there was no bookstore.”

The store on Main Street, in the space formerly occupied by the Savory Grape wine store, will be a bit different than the first two, which focus on fine art and academic works.

“We have a lot more room for children’s books in East Greenwich,” said McCullough.

That part of the store is still getting fleshed out, said manager Sam Coren. They are looking to provide a place for parents to come with their children, he said. The store wants to work with the schools so that it can carry books on school reading lists.

The store also has an extensive graphic novel collection, as well as some unusual art books. They plan to stock bestsellers too.

“We have a great relationship with a lot of publishers,” said McCullough. “We’re able to get great prices – pretty much the same pricing as at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.”

McCullough said he expects people to find a familiar book, but then maybe pause at something unexpected right beside it.

“That’s what a good bookstore is all about,” he said. “You don’t want to be a small mirror-image of those [larger] stores.”

The store will hold a formal opening later in September. McCullough said they plan to host reading groups and readings with authors as well.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Ruby Shalansky of Warwick, who was browsing the shelves with her husband on Saturday. “I think it adds to the quality of life here on Main Street.”

Symposium Books is located at 247 Main Street and is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The phone number is 886-1600.