If you traversed the Long Beach boardwalk fair in the waning days of August, you may have stumbled upon a box trailer with “Title Wave Books” dancing across its painted-on waves. That mobile bookstore, a Long Beach business, is owned by Kate Scotti, a Lynbrook resident who just won a $10,000 grant as part of the chamber of commerce’s Business Challenge.
Inspired by ABC’s hit reality television series “Shark Tank,” Scotti was among four other finalists who presented at Bright Eye Beer Co. on Oct. 19. Standing before a quartet of judges, Scotti had 10 minutes to present, followed by five minutes of questions.
“It is incredibly fulfilling to know that these grant funds will be used to help an aspiring business grow and one that will impact Long Beach and our community in such a positive way,” the board wrote in a statement to the Herald. “We will be rooting for Kate and Title Wave Books every step of the way.”
Scotti, a speech language pathologist and mother of two children under 5, with another on the way, said she started Title Wave — a mobile bookseller — to reconnect with reading and spend less time on social media. In the past, she said, she would often spend her days at the beach but would forget to bring a book.
“I wanted to spend time modeling something that was healthy and appropriate and good for them,” Scotti said. “It brought me back to reading.”
Scotti opened Title Wave in May 2026 with just over $10,000, becoming the third mobile bookstore in Nassau County, she said. The trailer’s limited space means it has a smaller inventory of popular titles, which Scotti said makes the shopping experience less overwhelming than a large bookstore.
Her business, she explained, will make books more accessible, particularly for readers who face long library waitlists for popular new releases or have difficulty reaching independent bookstores.
“We’re talking about waitlists of 100s of people,” Scotti alleged. “If you want to read with your friends, build community, or talk about books, it can make it really challenging.”
Scotti said the closest bookstore to Long Beach, according to Google Maps, is at least a 15-minute drive, to Cedarhurst.
Since May, Scotti has doubled her gross income through multi-day events and affiliations with platforms like Bookshop.org — an e-commerce book marketplace — and Libro.fm for audiobook purchases. Title Wave has made strides in the local community, she said, through social media marketing, community fairs, and most notably, collaborations with other small businesses like coffee shops and breweries.
Scotti said Title Wave has attracted repeat customers who visit it at different locations. In the future, she said she hopes to have author readings and book signings and children’s activities among other events.
Using the grant money, Scotti said, she hopes to pursue indoor-pop ups and holiday markets in the colder months while continuing to adapt to different audiences over time.
“From the beginning, the Long Beach Chamber and the Long Beach community as a whole have been so supportive and welcoming,” Scotti said. “They really believe in the business and want Title Wave to succeed. Winning drove that home for me and made me feel like we’re on the right path.”
