Massive "Bookshop In Lakewood" Support
At noon on Saturday, June 20th over 200 people gathered at The Bookshop in Lakewood. The owner, Colin Brown, never saw it coming.
An event on Facebook was created which invited all lovers of books and supporters of independent business to come on Saturday and purchase a single book. The occasion was also set up to be a complete surprise for Colin; the event page requested attendees to come an hour before opening.
Within two weeks over 4,800 invites had been sent by the 300 people interested in attending. Other independent local businesses began to catch wind and offer support. The Root Café donated gallons of coffee for the attendees and Jake Briggs, a local singer/songwriter, played guitar and did sing-alongs with children and their parents out front.
Colin came to open the doors at 11:30am, saw the crowd outside, and watched in shock as the first two dozen patrons filed in. By 1 p.m. the line from the register stretched to the back of the store and looped back. Colin later posted, “Wow... THAT was truly unexpected! There aren’t sufficient words to thank you all appropriately, but thank you.”
“The look on Colin’s face was worth the trip alone,” said Akron native Carrie Taylor. “But I’m really happy I found a book on anthropology for my boyfriend. When I asked Colin if he had something on Egyptian life and culture he found me this in no time. I also got some Stephen King for me.”
Tim Gaydos, a Parma resident who attended after catching wind of the event online said, “I heard Lakewood had a new indie book store, but I wasn’t sure quite where it was. I’ll absolutely be coming out here instead of Half Price Books from now on.”
The Bookshop also features a wide array of children’s books. Amy Kravochuck of Lakewood was waiting in line with an armful. “I watch my sister’s son a few days each week and he’s going to go nuts over these... The others are for my cousin and aunt who are out of town today, but wanted to support an independent Lakewood business.”
The Custom Frame Shop, Girl’s Best Trend, and Goddess Blessed are the other independent businesses who share the block with the Bookshop. The proprietor of Girl’s Best Trend also noted a surge in business on the day of the event and confirmed that, “Our block was rockin’ thanks to... everyone who came out!”
The Bookshop in Lakewood is located on the west side at 15721 Madison Avenue at the crossover intersection of Hilliard and Madison. The shop will be celebrating its one-year anniversary on Saturday, October 10th. Another event is planned for that date.
Sean McCoy has lived in Lakewood since he was 21 years old commuting to Baldwin Wallace. He's always happy to inform people that he lives in the most fun and interesting city in Ohio.
Sean McCoy
Sean has lived in Lakewood since he was 21 years old commuting to Baldwin Wallace. He's always happy to inform people that he lives in the most fun and interesting city in Ohio.