Open Door Bookstore celebrates 40 years
Starting out as a small children’s bookstore, the Open Door Bookstore has since grown six times its original size and has become a destination for more than its literary offerings.
The Open Door Bookstore is kicking off its year-long 40th anniversary celebration with a book signing and reception at the store on Friday, May 13, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., featuring 30 authors that have been featured in the store over the years. The store first opened in 1971 as a 500 square-foot shop for children’s books, but since then has expanded to 3,000 square-feet offering all varieties of books and a gift gallery featuring items made by local artists. In 1992, Janet and John Hutchison purchased the business from Betty Flemming and have kept the spirit of the store alive.
I had worked there for over 9 years managing it so I knew a lot about the business and the woman that owned it decided to sell, so it seemed a logical step, said Janet Hutchison. `The librarian in me loves matching up the book with the reader especially the children.`
The personal touch the store offers customers is why Hutchinson said the store has been able to have continued success. Staff will often make recommendations for people coming into the store unsure of what book to give someone as a gift, or maybe just something interesting for themselves to read.
`What has become important, is the fact from the book standpoint people can come to the store and ask questions of staff that read books and can look up and find the hard to locate books at times,` said Hutchison. `I think people value that kind of service and the fact that we can order books for customers and get many, many things in a few days.`
Also, making sure to offer something different through the bookstore or gift gallery is how Hutchinson said the store keeps things fresh.
`We try to have things that are unusual and different that people aren’t going to see in other shops,` she said. `Because we have so many people that come very frequently we feel we need to have new and different things for them.`
Regular customers stop in throughout the week, with some visiting several times, she said. Since discussion of the anniversary celebration began, she has heard people tell their stories of coming into the store as a child with their parents.
`Since we have been talking about the fourth anniversary, I have had people come in and say, ‘I think I have come here for 40 years.’ That is fun and that is really nice to see,` she said.
The building started out divided into three different spaces, but over the years as neighboring retail spots opened up, the previous owner started to expand the store. Since she has owned the store, the back of store was improved allowing for better organization behind the scenes.
`We were able to come up with a place that kind of streamlines the back of the store. It is an area the customers never see, but it is important to the rest of us,` she said.
The unexpected and good relationship between workers is another reason she said she enjoys owning the store.
`I go in the morning and I never quite know what will happen each day is different and I like that element of surprise,` she said. `Over the years we have developed a good team of people that work together well and enjoy working together, so that makes the workspace a fun thing.`
For the kickoff event on Friday, May 13, people planning to attend can show up at the night of the event. There is a $5 donation requested, which benefits The Literacy Volunteers, with a portion of sales from the event also being donated. Various downtown restaurants are providing coffee and deserts. Also, there will be drawings for $40 gift certificates to the store.“
