There's a new bookstore in town for students who want to be surrounded by the smells of fine imported teas, colorful Indian paintings and discussions about different Eastern philosophies.

East West Crossings, 201 Elmwood St., combines a unique bookstore, art gallery and tea café. Co-owner Joy Mitra said the store prides itself on its focus on multiculturalism and Eastern philosophy.

"We're interested in the notion of a 'tea culture,' " Mitra said. "There's a phrase that says 'If you want to get to know a culture, drink their tea.'"

Mitra, who opened the shop and art gallery Dec. 29 with her husband, Ranadhir, said the tea café aspect of the store will be opening within the next two weeks. The café will be hosting a grand opening event sometime in the first two weeks of February; however, the owners said they are already happy with the art gallery and bookstore's customer turnout.

"We've been really excited by the amount of people coming in," Joy Mitra said. "Their reactions have been great."

Some students are already expressing excitement about the shop, because of what they call its intimate atmosphere.

Lauralyn Clawson (senior-Spanish) said she much prefers smaller bookstores because "they are more intimate and cozy than the bigger stores."

Adding to the appeal of these smaller bookstores is the sense of community they can create, Jonathan Berti (senior-psychology and philosophy) said. "I like that they promote a lot of local events," he said. "Just by looking at the walls, I can find things to do in the area."

Mitra said she and her husband have always had an interest in tea and philosophy and they wanted a place where people could sit, relax and learn from one another. They believe that by bringing in art, tea and books from different cultures, people will gain a better understanding of these cultures while enjoying a comfortable surrounding, she said.

East West Crossings will boast a large selection of specialty green and black loose-leaf teas from China, India and Japan, Mitra said. In addition to these teas, the café will also be serving coffee and snacks, she added.

The books in the store cover a variety of topics, primarily regarding multicultural viewpoints and Eastern philosophies, Mitra said.

To create discussion, the store is also organizing book clubs, discussion groups, poetry readings and small events, Mitra said. A discussion group on Buddhism is being formed.

The third component of the store -- the art gallery -- features art and artifacts from regions and cultures where, according to the owners, "tea matters." The gallery is currently hosting an exhibit and sale on Madhubani paintings, which are done by women in rural India on rice paper.

East West Crossing is a 10-minute drive from campus. More information can be found online at eastwestcrossings.com or by calling 234-8810.