A bookstore named “Kotsyubynsky” is opening in the Ukrainian Carpathians

The Carpathian village of Verkhnii Yaseniv, nestled in Western Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk oblast, now offers book and coffee enthusiasts a new home-away-from-home, a bookstore-café called “Kotsyubynsky.” 

Having opened on Aug. 16, during the 2024 “Writers’ Bonfire on the Cheremosh” literary festival, the owners chose the name because the village offered so much inspiration for Ukrainian classical writer Mykhailo Kotsyubynsky. Writer Anna Pavlichenko, who co-founded “Kotsyubynsky” with her husband, Vasyl Tomyshynets (“Hutsul”), arrived in the area six months ago and decided to stay. Being an active person, Pavlichenko said she needed “more than just writing.” 

“I wanted to create a space for recovery from the war for soldiers and their families,” she said.

Pavlichenko believes in the therapeutic power of writing, and has supported fellow soldiers in publishing books. The initial idea was to create a recovery space, but finding the right location was challenging. Pavlichenko won a “Diia” government grant for starting a business, and decided with her husband to build the bookstore on the plot of land they bought.

The Carpathians has always offered a quiet, safe environment, attracting Ukrainian writers like Ivan Franko, Lesya Ukrainka, and Kotsyubynsky. The bookstore-café was built as an art space, and it will host festivals, cultural events, exhibitions, presentations, performances, lectures, and master classes. The space is available for anyone who would like to volunteer a donation. 

The bookstore features a reading room, terrace, and access to the Black Cheremosh river. Besides books, coffee, drinks, and desserts are available. A “living” museum, founded by Vasyl Tomyshynets, will showcase a private collection and host performances. The opening is planned for September 2024, coinciding with Mykhailo Kotsyubynsky’s 160th birth anniversary. 

Currently, the bookstore offers books from Lira-K and other publishers like The Old Lion Publishing and Folio, including modern and classic literature, bestsellers, and children’s books. The bookstore-café plans to organize cultural retreats for veterans, soldiers, and their families, introducing them to courses on creativity and presenting their works. 

Copy editing: Ben Angel