Our Story

The Tempest aims to form a new sort of community: where literature and friendship meet.

Who are we?

  • The Tempest hosts events across the Princeton area, hosting the newest talent in literature, art, and music; every event will have drinks and discussion, hoping to grow our local community here. For more information, please visit our events page or email [email protected].

  • You can purchase specially curated book boxes right here, with personalized books and local goods arriving right at your doorstep. The best of Princeton will arrive to you across the United States!

  • We hope to grow this into a brick and mortar shop in the heart of Princeton, offering food, drinks, and of course, books to every customer. Our vision is to host events in our very own space. Please consider supporting us to make this dream come true!

Hi! My name is Megha Rastogi, and I am the founder and owner of The Tempest. My first love has always been books. Since I was young, I could always be spotted with a book in my hand and another one in my backpack. The feeling of being lost in another world is unparalleled, and I want to chase that feeling for the rest of my life.

I graduated from college in May 2025 and moved back home to Princeton, New Jersey. While this is my favorite place in the world, I noticed something was sorely lacking. The academic environment of the university paired with the bustling town around it needs a place to grow, thrive, and cultivate. So, I started The Tempest to incubate that energy. My dream is to start a storefront bar and bookstore open all day, where people from all walks of life can sip a drink and chat about the Odyssey or Upanishads.

I hope you enjoy my little slice of luxury!