Marlene and Tom England, co-owners of Curious Iguana bookstore and Dancing Bear Toys and Gifts in Frederick, Md., will open WordPlay later this summer at 50 W. Main Street in Wardensville, West Va. They "have been planning WordPlay since 2018 and are excited to become part of the Wardensville community," according to the new store's website.
A post on WordPlay's Facebook page noted that the Englands "may look familiar since they've been spending a lot of time in the Wardensville area over the last two years. (Some of WordPlay's best ideas were hatched over coffee at the Lost River Trading Post!).... Marlene's roots run deep in West Virginia. She grew up in Berkeley County, and her dad was born and raised near Slanesville in Hampshire County. Marlene has many fond memories of family vacations at Lost River State Park and is thrilled to be returning to the West Virginia hills.
"WordPlay will blend the best of the two Frederick shops into an independent bookstore with an extra helping of fun. In addition to new books for all ages, WordPlay will offer games, puzzles, art and science kits, and other products that promote creativity, learning, and family fun."