A Vintage Book Shop with Community Mission
A Vintage Dream with Modern Purpose: How Shaunna and Jerry Wood Built Vinta-lit-ious
When Shaunna Wood talks about her business, Vinta-lit-ious, her voice lights up with equal parts nostalgia and purpose. The Camdenton shop she and her husband Jerry opened this summer is more than a vintage-inspired, “vintage-delicious”, boutique — it’s a gathering place, a creative outlet, and a reflection of what happens when community, perseverance, and support come together.
For Shaunna, the dream took root long before the store opened its doors. A former librarian, she spent years helping people in her community find resources, apply for jobs, and connect with opportunity. “Libraries are so much more than books,” she says. “You see the needs of the community up close. You learn to help however you can.”
That instinct to serve others became the foundation for Vinta-lit-ious. Drawing inspiration from an old-fashioned soda fountain shop where she once worked, Shaunna envisioned a space that would blend vintage charm with local creativity — a book shop where people could also browse not only books, but unique Missouri-made products, enjoy a warm cup of coffee, hear live music, or even drop off food pantry donations. “We wanted it to be cultural and educational,” she explains. “A place for everyone.”
Inside Vinta-lit-ious, shelves hold new and pre-shelved books, hand-crafted goods from Missouri consignors, boutique clothing, and artisan foods — from honey sodas made in Norwood to soup and dip mixes from Mount Vernon. On weekends, guests might even find a sample table or an open-mic performance. It’s an experience that invites people to slow down, connect, and celebrate local talent.
And recently, Vinta-lit-ious turned that vision into action with an open house in November, complete with live music. Soon they’ll have a lineup of more events and classes— including jewelry-making workshops and more opportunities for the community to learn, create, and connect. The shop will also serve as a holiday food-drive drop-offsite, helping ensure local families have what they need this season.
Bringing the Vision to Life
But getting here wasn’t easy. After experiencing several challenges to launching their bookstore, the Woods could have given up. Instead, they found New Growth.
Through the New Growth Women’s Business Center and its microlending program, Shaunna and Jerry completed detailed business planning and accessed the capital they needed to bring their dream to life.
“New Growth believed in us when others didn’t,” Shaunna says. “We went through the business planning process, and honestly, it was like taking a college course. It helped us to clearly define our goals, stay focused, and understand what success would look like.”
That clarity — paired with New Growth’s mission to empower rural entrepreneurs — has turned Vinta-lit-ious into more than a business. It’s become a symbol of what’s possible when local families are supported in building the communities they want to live in.
“For us, this is a dream come true,” Shaunna says. “But more than that, we wanted it to be about a mission — not just profit. That’s what New Growth stands for too: helping others make their dreams happen.”
From the open-house celebrations to the classes and community drives, Vinta-lit-ious is proof that small shops like a bookstore can play a big role in what makes a community special. They draw people together, support local makers, and create the kind of connection and culture that make small towns great places to live.
Visit Vinta-lit-ious
Vinta-lit-ious is located at 1155 N. Business Highway 5 in Camdenton, Missouri. The shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-ish to 6 p.m. Be sure to get on their email list by visiting vintalitious.com