There’s a buzz in the air as customers gather around the Wicked Little Books and Coffee – and it’s not just from the frothy iced lattes being served as fast as they could be made. Members of the Rhode Island Book and Sip Club are holding their monthly Social Hour at Warwick’s Goddard Park and invited Wicked Little to join them to offer beverages and a selection of books and gifts for the people who love them.
The brainchild of Mary and Nick Karalis, Lincoln-based Wicked Little is a bookstore cafe on wheels. Inspired by the joy kids get from ice cream trucks, the couple wanted to create a similar experience for adults with coffee and books. “Nick and I just love visiting local bookshops and cafes,” says Mary. “They have the best of both worlds. We thought it would be so cool if we brought this to a truck. And we could bring that local bookshop feeling directly to people. That’s how it got started.” Crafted drinks include lattes, Americanos, and cold brew with extras like sweet syrups, cold foam, espresso shots, and almond or oat milk. For younger patrons, there are caffeine-free fruity refreshers made with sparkling water.
Wicked Little launched this summer, but the process started more than a couple of years ago. Nick and Mary first purchased their van in 2024, but the kickoff was delayed so they could attend to other responsibilities like raising two children and maintaining their full-time day jobs – Nick is an accountant, and Mary works for a local nonprofit. “We had a couple of other things going on,” she says jokingly as she looks over at her kids stocking books, front-facing, within the shelves and cubbies lining the van interior, all revealed when the door rolls open. Pegboards make effective use of space to display merch for sale, like tote bags and stickers bearing their logo.
Now, with several events under their belts, they’ve been able to work out some of the bugs and are percolating like a well-run coffee maker, along with smiles, book recommendations, and a flavor for high-quality customer service. The feedback from coffee and book lovers has been nothing but positive: “The response has been great. Everybody loves the aesthetic – they’ve been so wonderful.”
People especially love the name Wicked Little, which is, well, wicked Rhode Island. “I’m born and bred in Rhode Island,” says Mary. “Obviously that’s why we used the adjective ‘wicked’ and then the word ‘little’ because we’re in a small state.” She adds that the van may seem tiny, but it’s big enough for Nick to stand in while he’s mixing his caffeinated concoctions, made with locally roasted New Harvest coffee.
The book choices are brewed to order as well, depending on the audience. There are always children’s books, but the stock may be mixed up based on the venue. The Book and Sip Club loves to read Romantasy novels, for example, so that particular genre is prominently featured on this sunny day in Warwick. To find where they’ll be parked next, along with new book arrivals, seasonal menu drops, author events, and more, follow along on Instagram at WickedLittleBooksCoffee.
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