Curbside Books: A Love Letter to Stories, Community, and One Very Special Trolley
If you’ve seen a bright red vintage trolley parked in a Boise neighborhood and felt an irresistible pull to slow down, hop off the sidewalk, and see what’s inside, you’re not alone. That feeling is exactly what Curbside Books was created to spark.
Founded by Dani Scovel and trolley opening just this year, Curbside Books is more than a mobile bookstore. It’s a love letter to stories and a deeply personal project rooted in family, memory, and community connection.
Inspired by Grandma Marie
At the heart of Curbside Books is Dani’s lifelong reading buddy: her grandma, Marie.
Grandma Marie loved books that felt rich but approachable — fiction, memoirs, autobiographies. Those tastes still live on today in the carefully curated shelves of the trolley. You’ll find plenty of memoirs and biographies, along with beloved authors like Abbi Waxman, whose The Bookish Life of Nina Hill became a shared favorite Dani and her grandma read again and again.
In many ways, every book on the trolley feels like a quiet nod to the conversations they once shared—stories passed between generations, now offered to an entire city.
From Daydream to Trolley Tracks
Like so many book lovers, Dani had long dreamed of opening a bookstore. The idea floated around for years—maybe a box truck, maybe something custom-built—but every option felt overly complex and just out of reach.
Then came one very specific moment. While scrolling Facebook Marketplace, Dani spotted a vintage trolley for sale. And just like that, everything clicked.
It had windows. It had charm. It had wheels. It was unique, mobile, and somehow felt instantly right.
That single listing led Dani to discover the surprisingly niche world of trolley brokers, connect with sellers across the country, and eventually fly to Kansas with her dad to bring the trolley home. What once felt like a far-off dream suddenly became something tangible, still challenging, still scary, but finally achievable.
Meet “Trolley Parton”
Every good story needs a great name, and Dani knew the trolley deserved one.
After crowdsourcing ideas on Instagram (with contenders like “Big Red” and “Red Betty”), one suggestion came through that immediately ended the debate: Trolley Parton.
Game over.
Equal parts clever, iconic, and perfectly on-brand, the name stuck, and honestly, it’s hard to imagine it being called anything else.
The Realities of Restoring a 1990s Trolley
Bringing Trolley Parton to life wasn’t all romance and rose-colored windows. One of the biggest challenges? Mechanics.
Turns out, not many people specialize in working on a 30-foot, 1990 vintage trolley. “Anything that could leak did leak,” Dani said. The brakes were… questionable (a fact Dani discovered while parked on a hill, which is never a relaxing moment). But, with the help of generous experts and a growing community of supporters, each obstacle became part of the learning curve.
Now, as the trolley shifts from “build mode” into “bookstore mode,” Dani finds herself wearing new hats every day – curator, bookseller, event host, small business owner – all while still learning as she goes.
Opening Day Nerves & Boise Hills
Driving a vintage trolley through Boise traffic is not for the faint of heart.
On her way up to an event at High Desert Station, Dani found herself flooring the gas pedal up a hill, crawling along at 20 miles per hour, silently begging the trolley not to roll backward while cars stacked up behind her.
Spoiler alert: she made it. Everyone survived. And the story is already legendary.
Curating Books for Every Neighborhood
With limited shelf space, choosing which books make it onto Trolley Parton is an evolving process. Dani’s long-term vision goes beyond a static collection, as she hopes to regularly visit specific neighborhoods, learn what locals love to read, and tailor the selection to each stop.
Right now, that means her house (and garage) are overflowing with books as she experiments, listens, and learns. It’s early days, but the intention is clear: make reading feel personal, accessible, and welcoming.
Snoots: The Trolley’s Other Star
No Boise business is complete without a furry sidekick.
Snoots, Dani’s dog, takes his role on the trolley very seriously. He doesn’t have a favorite genre or a designated reading nook, he simply expects attention. Fame, after all, comes naturally to a dog like him.
Creating Neighborhood Moments
One of the earliest pop-ups at Spoken Coffee made it clear that Curbside Books was doing exactly what it set out to do.
Dani wasn't exactly sure what to expect but the day turned into a busy, joyful gathering. Neighbors wandered over, curious and excited. People thanked her, not just for selling books, but for creating something unexpected and good right where they lived.
It felt like a shared moment, one that Dani had hoped for since this was merely an idea, a pop-up turned hangout, a trolley turned community space. And that’s the magic of what Curbside Books is bringing to the Treasure Valley.
For the Intimidated Reader
Dani is quick to admit she didn’t grow up as a “huge reader,” which makes her advice refreshingly approachable. For anyone intimidated by literary culture, her recommendation is simple: start with a book adaptation of a movie you already love.
You already know the characters. You already like the story. And suddenly, reading doesn’t feel so intimidating—it feels familiar.
Rapid-Fire Favorites
- One book she’ll always recommend:The Salt Path by Raynor Winn — an inspiring autobiography about loss, resilience, and starting over.
- Best drink to have while reading: Coffee. In the biggest mug you can find.
- Trolley Parton’s theme song: Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 (because obviously).
- Best curbside view so far: Watching the sunrise at High Desert Station, with foothills and horses in the distance during that very first pop-up.
More Than a Bookstore
Curbside Books isn’t just selling books, it’s bringing stories to people where they already are, lowering the barrier to reading, and creating moments of connection in everyday places.
And at the center of it all is Dani Scovel, honoring her grandma’s legacy, trusting her instincts, and proving that sometimes all it takes is one trolley listing to change everything.
Keep an eye out for Trolley Parton rolling through the Treasure Valley – you never know what story you’ll discover next.