Featured Local Business
The Book Shelter
I had the privileged opportunity of meeting some of the two most interesting local businesswomen of Hiram, Georgia Saturday. They were Peggy Howland and Kelly Woodham of the Book Shelter.
The Book Shelter is a new establishment right in the center of Historic Hiram. It is a wonderful shop boasting of thousands of gently-loved books, a haven of quality reads for fans of every genre.
Set in the old 1904 built Bookout Building, this bookstore is filled with charm, ambiance, exposed brick, and tin-flavored ceilings of a time gone by. The smell of natural raw pine, cookies, and the plain down-to-earth friendly attentions of the mother-daughter owners are welcoming delight to those seeking a haven in which to find books locally.
"There wasn't any local bookstores in Hiram," Kelly said, "where you could get quality books and a good selection of general all-specific books."
Indeed there is a fine variety, not expected in a smaller building, but the Book Shelter itself is large in categories for everyone. Travel, self-help, sports, games, business, classics, politics, poetry, new age, mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy, young adult, and even westerns are offered to name just some genres.
Peggy and Kelly always ready to assist.
Both Peggy and Kelly have an eye and ear for listening and providing what an inquiring reader is looking for, and they offer special orders for books wanted, which are not currently in the store. These special orders can be picked up at the Book Shelter upon arrival for the convince of the reader who placed the order.
Peggy at the Spotlight Section. This months Spotlight was on Nora Roberts.
Peggy and Kelly are all about community and family teamwork.
Quoting mom Peggy, she told me with her eyes twinkling with good humor:
"I wanted a job so I could read, so we had to build a family (book) store first!"
Not only mother and daughter, but Peggy and Kelly are good friends too. They constantly tease each other and laughter is abundant in this happy bookstore.
Customer service is outstanding. Asking for their favorite author, one Hiram patron was quickly shown an abundance of said-author much to her delight. Kelly knew immediately where to find the books in this well-organized shop. Peggy and Kelly are knowledgeable, helpful, and just plain fun. These two charming ladies enjoy teasing each other as to whose taste in literature will outsell the others! On Saturday, their opening day, Peggy won round one.
I have no doubt this friendly battle is not yet over. Patrons Andrea and Rachal with Kelly
The Book Shelter boasts of a "Spotlight Section," which features hardbacks, author, and category themes. Plans in the works for the community needs consist of a future supply of the required reading for local schools (primarily high schools) in Paulding County, author signings, and a Grand Reopening in September during Hiram Days.
The Book Shelter is worth the trip into. Here you can dream for that certain novel you have been yearning for, and the ladies will do their utmost best to achieve it for you. Truly, what better place to have a bookstore than in the building where the original Hiram City Well was built over. After all, it was rumored to be a wishing well wasn't it?
The stained glass Bookout Building sign still hanging:
A testimony to the value Peggy and Kelly put on the historic story of our Hiram Community.
Visit the Book Shelter and find that book you're wishing for. I am sure Peggy and Kelly will help you achieve what is worth more than any gold coin thrown into a well. A book worth picking up and reading.
Pictures and article by LA POWERS
