Introduction

After losing her position in the tech industry, Andi Bailey faced a crossroads familiar to many professionals: pivot back into corporate life or chase a long-delayed dream. She chose the latter, purchasing a 1961 Studebaker Champ through Facebook Marketplace and converting its bed into a traveling bookstore called Flatbed Fiction. Today, the vintage truck rolls through Rhode Island, offering curated reads at coffee shops, farms, markets, and sunset gatherings by the sea.

What Happened

Bailey was laid off from her tech job and decided to revisit her ambition of owning a bookstore. Within weeks of finding the Studebaker online, she had custom shelving installed in the truck bed. Flatbed Fiction made its debut at Grafik Coffee in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in less than a month. Since then, the mobile shop has appeared at beaches, farms, artisan markets, and coffeehouses across the state. Its shelves carry romance—Bailey’s preferred genre—alongside horror and thrillers. The concept gained traction on TikTok, drawing attention far beyond local roads. Bailey continues to work remotely five days a week while operating the bookstore as a side project she describes as her “touch-grass” escape.

Why This Matters

Her story illustrates how a sudden career setback can become the catalyst for a creative small business. Rather than seeking investors or rapid expansion, Bailey is keeping Flatbed Fiction intentionally small. She prioritizes face-to-face interactions and flexible scheduling over revenue targets. For aspiring entrepreneurs, the example shows that a side hustle can start with a single vehicle, a marketplace listing, and the willingness to try something unfamiliar.

Key Takeaways

  • Andi Bailey bought a 1961 Studebaker Champ on Facebook Marketplace after being laid off from tech.
  • She converted the truck bed into Flatbed Fiction, a mobile bookstore based in Rhode Island.
  • The shop debuted at Grafik Coffee in Portsmouth within a month of the purchase.
  • It now pops up at coffee shops, farms, markets, and beachside events across the state.
  • Inventory includes romance, horror, and thrillers, with romance being Bailey’s favorite.
  • The truck gained visibility on TikTok, but Bailey is not pursuing aggressive growth.
  • She runs the bookstore part-time while working remotely and calls it her “touch-grass” escape.

Conclusion

Flatbed Fiction proves that reinvention doesn’t require a flawless plan or unlimited capital. Bailey’s vintage Studebaker is more than a novelty—it’s a reminder that a layoff can open the door to a more meaningful way of working. By staying focused on community rather than scale, she has built a mobile bookstore that moves at her own pace, one pop-up at a time.