Long Dark House is seeking a full-time **Assistant Store Manager & Events Coordinator** to help lead the day-to-day operations of our independent bookstore in Old Town Alexandria. This role combines retail leadership, bookselling, staff coaching, merchandising, inventory support, and event coordination. The ideal candidate is warm, organized, dependable, and comfortable independently leading the store while helping bring author events, book clubs, workshops, and community programming to life. This position works closely with the Owner/Founder and offers an opportunity to help shape a growing bookstore from its earliest days.
Long Dark House — Alexandria, VA
Full-Time | 35–40 hours per week
$25–$27/hour, based on experience
Anticipated Start: October 2026
Long Dark House is a new independent bookstore in Old Town Alexandria specializing in horror, science fiction, and other strange stories.
Our goal is to create more than a place to buy books. Long Dark House is building a welcoming literary community where lifelong genre readers, curious newcomers, reluctant readers, families, authors, artists, and people discovering something strange for the first time can all find a place at the table.
Alongside thoughtfully curated books, the store will host author readings and signings, book clubs, workshops, youth programming, community gatherings, pop-ups, and other literary and creative events on/off site.
As we grow, we're looking for an Assistant Store Manager & Events Coordinator who wants to help build that community with us.
The Assistant Store Manager & Events Coordinator is a key leadership position at Long Dark House and works directly with the Owner/Founder.
This person will help lead the day-to-day operation of the bookstore, supervise and develop our bookselling team, maintain an excellent customer experience, and coordinate many of the events and programs that bring the store to life.
This is a hands-on position. Some days may involve leading the sales floor, receiving boxes of books, helping a customer find their next favorite read, coaching a bookseller, or refreshing a display. Other days may involve communicating with an author, preparing for an evening event, developing a run-of-show, or figuring out how to solve an unexpected problem five minutes before doors open.
We're looking for someone who enjoys both people and details—someone who can create structure without losing the warmth and personality that makes an independent bookstore special.
We believe great independent retail should still feel personal.
Our team should be visible, attentive, approachable, and genuinely interested in helping people discover something they'll love.
The Assistant Store Manager will:
Events are an important part of what we're building at Long Dark House.
Programming may include author readings and signings, book clubs, workshops, children's programming, community gatherings, release celebrations, literary discussions, pop-ups, themed events, and other creative programming.
The Assistant Store Manager & Events Coordinator will help turn event ideas into organized experiences.
Responsibilities may include:
The Owner/Founder maintains final approval of the overall programming calendar, major partnerships, event concepts, and event budgets.
Final buying and purchasing authority remains with the Owner unless specifically delegated.
We want Long Dark House to be an active participant in the literary and creative community.
The Assistant Store Manager may:
We're interested in candidates who bring strong leadership, hospitality, organization, and curiosity.
Relevant experience may come from bookstores, libraries, specialty retail, hospitality, museums, arts organizations, publishing, events, community programming, or similar environments.
You may be a great fit if you:
Previous bookstore experience is welcomed but not required.
We care just as much about your ability to lead people, create excellent experiences, stay organized, and learn.
This is a full-time position averaging approximately 35–40 hours per week.
The regular schedule will generally include Tuesday through Sunday, with a combination of opening, mid, and closing responsibilities.
Evening and weekend availability is required because of bookstore events and programming.
When possible, schedules will be adjusted during event-heavy weeks so event responsibilities are incorporated into the employee's normal workweek.
$25–$27 per hour, based on experience.
Candidates considered at the upper end of the range should demonstrate significant experience independently leading retail or hospitality operations, supervising employees, coordinating events, or performing comparable management responsibilities.
Long Dark House employee perks include:
Additional benefits and policies will be discussed during the interview and offer process.
This is an active retail position. Employees should be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with reasonable accommodation where applicable, including working on the sales floor for extended periods, moving throughout the bookstore, and assisting with routine receiving, shelving, event setup, and store operations.
The position requires regular availability during bookstore operating hours as well as some evenings and weekends.
Long Dark House is still being built—in every sense of the word.
That means this role offers something different from stepping into an established retail operation with years of existing systems.
You'll have the opportunity to help shape how we serve customers, develop employees, organize events, build community relationships, and establish traditions that may become part of Long Dark House for years to come.
We're looking for someone who wants to help build something strange, thoughtful, welcoming, and lasting.
Long Dark House is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds, experiences, identities, and perspectives and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and bookstore community.
$25 - $27 per hour