The Downtown Kissimmee Council recently awarded their Downtown Beautification & Innovation Award to White Rose Books & More, Downtown Kissimmee’s first independent bookstore.
Throughout the year, the Downtown Kissimmee Council will take notice when businesses make strides to enhance the Downtown area with projects that include either physical upgrades or improvements to their properties or innovative programming that improves the Downtown experience. For their first presentation of 2025, Downtown Kissimmee Council Chair Candice Shields of the Osceola Library System and members of the DKC Board dropped by to present White Rose with a signed letter and certificate as well as an a-frame sign that is theirs to display until the next award is presented.
White Rose was opened in Downtown Kissimmee in 2023 by former school media specialists Erin Decker Kratter and Tania Galiñanes. They got the keys and in two short weeks in November 2023 transformed the space into a working bookstore. Out front they added storefront signage. Inside, they create a children’s corner in partnership with the Early Learning Coalition, decorated with artwork by local artists, and have kept their shelves stocked with popular first-run books, used books, items from local vendors, and more.
They have brought novel (excuse the pun…) programming to Downtown Kissimmee in the form of book-related events and activities that have included everything from book fairs and author signings to book clubs and audio book walking groups, and several projects in partnership with other local businesses.
In addition, White Rose accepts the DKC’s Downtown Dollars, has an in-house coffee cart, and offers a personal greeting from canine mascot Teddy.
