Prior to opening a bookstore, Brown researched the possibility for years, "trying to figure out the details and how we could make it happen." Her family owns a coffee shop in town, she continued, and she started to sell books at the coffee shop as a way to "test the market." The store's adult book club, in fact, began at the coffee shop, and the experiment worked out well enough that eventually she took the plunge of expanding into another building in downtown Hoopeston.īrown recalled that she was "so nervous" the night before she made that announcement and "didn't know what to expect." The announcement met with a lot of excitement, and that enthusiasm continued with other pre-opening social media posts. For the adult book club, the members choose which books they want to read, while Brown's daughter runs the book clubs for younger readers. The store also has several book clubs, including an adult book club, a middle readers book club and a young adult book club. There is an author visit with Rob Witzel, author of Super Penguin, slated for February, and a local art teacher will be doing storytime sessions and art projects.
The shop also sells a "whole selection" of record players and accessories like cleaning kits, bags and carrying cases.īrown explained that the roughly 1,800-square-foot store features a seating area that will be used for book club meetings and other events. When it comes to vinyl, Brown said, the store's staff is "personally super into '70s music," but the team has tried to make sure the inventory is very broad and covers "all of the bases." New and used vinyl is available, and Brown added that she's excited about being able to offer indie-exclusive vinyl records.
Brown and her team also carry a variety of bookish gifts and sidelines like journals and coloring books. As a result, the store has "very good recommendations" in its children's, middle grade and YA sections.įor adult books there is an emphasis on fiction-literary fiction as well as mysteries and thrillers, plenty of historical fiction and action/western novels.
She is an elementary school teacher by trade, she noted, and her daughter has taught middle school and high school. Owners Emily and Bob Brown sell new titles for all ages, with Emily Brown reporting that the inventory is about 70% books, 20% vinyl and 10% gifts. Boxcar Books & Vinyl, a bookstore and record shop in Hoopeston, Ill., is fully open for business after hosting a grand opening celebration last Saturday.
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