MBA Student Turned Bookstore Owner Builds Community One Title at a Time

Whenever Monica Browning ‘26 and her husband, Mark, travel, they visit small, independent bookstores, browsing, sifting through various titles, and soaking in the atmosphere. It is a wonderful way for Monica, a photographer, and Mark, a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, to familiarize themselves with a new place. Each shop has its “own feel,” she says. What’s more, she has witnessed the ways in which these businesses serve as beloved “third spaces,” places outside of work or home where people can gather, exchange ideas and forge connections, particularly in the era of social media.

The Brownings recently opened their own bookstore,  Of Moose and Mind Bookshop, near their home in Manlius, New York. Like all entrepreneurs, Monica is adaptable, creative and passionate about her work. However this venture in particular provided her with the opportunity to give back to a place that means a great deal to her and Mark. It also gave her the chance to put to work lessons she has learned about leadership, marketing and finance in Le Moyne’s Master of Business Administration program, and through her existing business, Monica Browning Photography.  

In many ways, the work that the Brownings do at Of Moose and Mind is not unlike the work being done at Le Moyne – fostering community and encouraging inquiry. Of course, service is at the center of their new business. Monica acknowledges she and Mark gravitate toward different genres; she prefers fiction, while he favors nonfiction and classics. Knowing that their customers would have similar eclectic tastes, they carefully scoured through a database of approximately 40,000 titles before selecting ones for the store. It is deeply rewarding for them to know that the books they have carefully chosen have the capacity to help others develop skills such as empathy and the ability to communicate effectively.

Moving forward, Monica hopes that Of Moose and Mind Bookshop will grow and evolve. In particular, she is eager to host more events such as lectures and book clubs. It is her way of helping to shape the fabric of her community. 

“Bringing people together and fulfilling an unmet need is what it’s all about,” she says.