Our Story

Pressed was founded in 2021 by Christina Needham out of a desire for the people of Lakeland to find community through books. I distinctly remember, when I first learned about this little book & coffee shop, thinking: Wow, someone took the dream right out of my head and made it a reality. I'm a native Lakelander, a coffee drinker, and more than anything, a book lover. I could not have predicted, all those years ago, that I would one day call myself owner of this meaningful space. 

 

My vision for Pressed is to lean in to what it already does so well---connection. When I discovered my passion for literature, it was because I saw that stories offered what so many of us so desperately need, in that they teach us empathy for those whose path looks different than our own. My deepest hope is that Pressed can be a place where people from all walks of life can gather to feel seen, known, and cared for, both through the stories they read on pages and the stories they share over coffee.  

 

Pressed offers a selection of new and used books, ranging in all genres and interests. We are proud to partner with a local roastery, Ethos Coffee Roasters, for a full service coffee bar and Honeycomb bread bakers for locally sourced baked goods. We've also recently added some house-made food items that we are proud to serve weekly.

 

We are grateful to be located right in the heart of downtown Lakeland.  Since opening, we have a number of regular events including monthly book clubs and children's story time. We also host a variety of special events including poetry readings, author spotlight nights, and book signings. Thank you for supporting us and being a part of Pressed. We are so grateful for this community and the opportunity to be your indie bookstore.  

 

- Kaylin Fowler, owner