Well Read Books is beginning a new chapter. The bookstore, which has been located at 519 Court Street for more than two years, is moving across the street to 530 Court Street.
The store's owner, Brian Warren, said he has had customers, community members, family and friends offer to help with the move.
"Everybody has experience with moving books whenever they have to move their own library at home. When people find out that we're moving, there's just this wave of sympathy that I can feel come across their face," Warren said. "Books are definitely bulky."
The store will be closed while it moves and will reopen at its new location - across from Art House - on Friday, Jan. 16.
Warren said the new location is smaller - which he described as a mostly good thing. The current bookstore has a lot of extra space, he said. Warren ends up putting out several more copies of books than are needed as well as some books that aren't selling - just to fill shelf space.
"One of the things that I've struggled with since we've been here (at the current location) is that I've got a lot more space than I can actually use," Warren said. "I've got a lot of extra storage and a lot of things on the shelf that I leave because I just have all this space to fill."
The smaller space will present a challenge when the store holds events, such as book readings.
"It is a little tighter. We've always had the luxury of having the lounge upstairs because we have all this extra space (at the current store)," Warren said. "I'm going to have to be a little bit more creative."
He said some of the shelves will be movable so he can move them to put out chairs for events.
Also because of the tighter space, Warren said he will be more selective when taking books for the store's book-trade program. In the past, the store would take almost any book trade because it had extra space.
The new location, he said, will allow him to consolidate, which will help make the store more profitable. Furthermore, the new space is one level, which Warren said will make it easier to manage. The store usually only has one employee at a time.
"You have to go upstairs sometimes to look for something and meanwhile people are coming in the door and the phone's ringing - it's just hard to do (with two levels)," Warren said.
While the size was a large factor in the decision to move, it was not the only pro to the new space.
"I really wanted to have a store that felt a little bit more like a traditional downtown store front," Warren said.
The new location has a retail window space for the store to make window displays. Warren said the building has more charm to it, too, with a tall, old-
fashioned tin ceiling instead of a drop ceiling like the current store.
Warren said he has done some cosmetic work to the new location. He painted and refinished the floors. Another feature Warren is looking forward to at the new location is the courtyard off of the back of the store.
The other major reason for the move, Warren said, is an increase in visibility. The new location backs up to Market Street and has a rear entrance off of the Market Street parking lot.
"It gives me an opportunity to, with good signage, get a lot more drive-by visibility from one of the major thoroughfares of the town," Warren said.
At the new location, the store will be open until 8 p.m. on Fridays instead of 6. Warren said he hopes to extend the store's hours on other weeknights, too during the next year. He wants to give customers the opportunity to stop in after work without feeling rushed.
Warren said he first considered moving when the store front across the street became available back in August or September. Warren said he is going to work with the Chamber on a ribbon cutting ceremony sometime after the store reopens and settles into its new home. And he hopes to set up a book reading sometime in the first few weeks of the new location's opening.
Someone is stopping by almost everyday during the next two weeks for a few hours to help. Warren said he has mostly needed help moving big, awkward boxes and furniture.
"We've had so many people offer to help. The fans of the store and our friends here in the community are just so terrific," Warren said.
If anyone would like to help the store with the move, Warren said they can call the store at (573) 642-6181.