About Vibes & Scribes

Joan Lucey started with a small bookshop in Macroom, County Cork in November 1991. Although it was a thriving bookshop, after a while Joan decided she needed a new challenge. After hearing that the building on Bridge Street in Cork City was for sale, Joan took a chance and opened with 1800 square feet of retail space. About six years after opening, and following a few extensions, there was 5000 square feet of space available in the shop.

Vibes & Scribes soon carved a niche for itself as it did not directly compete with the big chain shops. Instead, Joan focused on supplying her customers with good quality bargain books and she also dealt in second hand books. She found Corkonians appreciated a place to find books on more unusual topics such as mind, body & spirit, cult authors, philosophy, art and even erotica for the more discerning customer.

As the support for Vibes & Scribes on Bridge Street grew and grew, Joan was prompted to open another shop on Lavitt’s Quay, also in Cork City. She decided to try out some arts and crafts supplies to complement the books. It was a difficult transition to incorporate and a complicated area to get to grips with, but the products proved popular with the customers.

Due to the success of the art and craft side of the business, Joan then ventured to expand into fabric, sewing, upholstery, wool and yarn supplies. These areas have been very well supported by the people of Cork, as many people are getting back into making their own clothes and repairing household items such as chairs themselves.

From the start of my venture the people of Cork have supported me and were extremely enthusiastic about the range of products available at Vibes & Scribes. This gave me the encouragement I needed to keep expanding and experimenting with different stock, and to introduce events like our book reading groups and craft demonstrations as a way of thanking our customers and getting them involved in the shops.

Joan Lucey

Highlights in 2011 have been Vibes & Scribes receiving the small to medium Business of the Year award by the Cork Business Association and being shortlisted in the Bord Gais Irish Bookshop of the Year competition.

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