More than a Shop. More than a classroom
A creative third space build community, curiosity, and the simple joys of being around people.
The heart of Sonder & Selene
There are places to work.
Places to shop.
Places to eat.
A place where you can bring your crochet and sit for a while. Where you can wander the shelves looking for something that catches your eye. Where you can learn something, you've never tried, join a conversation with a stranger, meet a new friend, or catch up with an old one.
But there aren't many places where you can simply be.
Sonder & Selene was created to be a place to feel welcome and at home.
Who am I?
Nice to meet you! I'm the founder of Sonder & Selene, Brigitte.
Sonder & Selene didn't start as a grand business plan; it started many years ago with a quiet need.
Since I was a kid, I longed for a place like this. I always felt most at east- and the most focused- when I'm surrounded by people. There's a certain magic in sitting in a room full of strangers all writing, reading, creating, working, or laughing with friends.
For years, I spent many days and hours in coffee shops nursing books in hand, writing, working on art projects, or getting lost in a book.
But I also had a nagging voice in my head: I need to spend more money, I'm just loitering at this point, I'm taking up too much space.
Making friends has never been easy for me either. I always wished for a place to naturally meet people, without having to walk into a room of strangers and announce, " Hi, I'm here to make friends."
So, I started thinking what was missing.
What if there was a place where you come alone and not feel alone?
A place where you could stay for a while without constantly feeling like you needed to spend money. Where you can bring your crochet, your favorite book, learn a new craft, meet a new friend, or simply sit in a room full of people and relax.
That's the place I'm building.
And in a world that moves at a relentless pace, where our attention is pulled towards screens and away from one another, I wanted to make room for something slower.
I invite you to slow down with me. Create something with your hands, share a table, or have an unexpected conversation.
Sonder & Selene is a place where you can belong without having to earn your place.
Why Sonder & Selene?
That quiet realization that every person around you has a life full, complicated, and as meaningful as yours.
Sonder
Sonder reminds us that everyone has a story.
Selene
The moon. A symbol of light in the dark, ever-changing cycles, reflection, and quiet presence.
Selene represents the quiet moments that give us space to refelct, recharge, and begin again.
Together, Sonder & Selene represents what I hope this place can be: a little light, a little curiosity, and a reminder that we're all sharing this strange, beautiful world together.
Curiosity
Connection
We believe we need each other. The more separated we become, the easier it is to lose sight how much we have in common. Without people to talk, to learn from, laugh with, and grow alongside, we can lose sight of the very things that make us human. We want to make finding those connections easier.
Creativity
We believe creativity makes life bigger. It gives us a reason to pick something up and make it our own. It gives us way to express ourselves without words, to lose ourselves for a while, and to remember we are capable of making something that didn't exist before.
Community
We believe community matters, and right now, maybe more than ever. We live in a world behind a glass screen. Surrounded by people but completely alone. We want to create a place where people can gather and our community grow.
Our Philosophy