By Jessica Dillon
For Ed Williams, opening a bookstore wasn’t just about selling books.
It was about creating a place where people could slow down, browse at their own pace and connect with others who share a love of reading.
That vision became reality June 19 when Chapter & Hearth celebrated its grand opening in Collinsville Plaza.
The new bookstore offers a mix of new and used books, children’s titles, rare and out-of-print editions, puzzles, greeting cards and gift items. But Williams hopes the store will become more than a retail space.
“I love books. I love everything about books. I enjoy talking to people that love books. And I think it’s a need that needs to be met here in this north part of the county. I know we’ve got a bookstore in Ridgeway, and that’s on the other side of the county, and so I just think we need one here,” he said.
Williams designed the store to feel inviting and comfortable, a place where customers can spend time exploring shelves and discovering something unexpected.
“We aimed to create a welcoming and warm environment where individuals can take their time, browse without feeling rushed, and leave feeling inspired,” Williams said. “Whether you’re searching for your next great read, a special gift, or simply a tranquil place to explore new ideas, Chapter & Hearth is here for you.”
Inside, visitors will find carefully organized sections of fiction and nonfiction, a children’s area and a growing collection of used, rare and hard-to-find books. Williams said thousands of additional books are still waiting to be shelved.
“The left side of the store is gonna be used books. The right side of this store will be new books,” he said.
Guests will also find book-related merchandise, engaging puzzles, heartfelt greeting cards, and unique gifts that Williams said are perfect for any occasion.
Among his current book recommendations is “Torn Land,” a book about the devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Camille in Nelson County in 1969.
“Right now, I’m reading “Torn Land,” which is the book about Nelson County following the hurricane. That went through there and (the area) was destroyed. Huge, huge area of land. Extremely interesting book,” Williams said.
While the store has officially opened, Williams views the summer as a soft-opening period. Plans are already underway for a larger celebration this fall, along with community events and appearances by local authors.
“We’re gonna basically sort of have a bigger grand opening in the fall, and work on scheduling events. Local authors, in particular,” he said.
The community response during opening weekend exceeded expectations.
“It’s been exciting getting the store open, and, and it was just overwhelmed with the response on Friday and Saturday with the number of people that came in. We exceeded our sales goals dramatically for both Friday and Saturday, and it’s been very busy today, too. That is wonderful,” Williams said.
Located at 3408 Virginia Ave. STE 2 in the Collinsville Plaza, Chapter & Hearth is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, call 276-352-5117 or email hello@chapterhearth.com.
