Christopher Kardambikis and his mother, Patty Kardambikis, have created Cousins' Books, a pop-up bookstore in Bill's Sandwich Shop, which is owned by Spiros Kardambikis, the bookstore owners' father and husband, respectively. The store is in New Castle, Pa., near Youngstown, Ohio, and was featured by New Castle News.
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| Christopher, Spiros and Patricia Kardambikis | |
Christopher has been binding books by hand for nearly two decades. In 2016, he joined the faculty of George Mason University as an assistant professor. Patty recently retired as a public school administrator and is now an adjunct professor at Westminster College.
Christopher commented: "We're both book lovers and avid readers. It's always been a dream of mine to open a bookshop. Once my mom, Patty, retired as a school administrator, the timing worked out where we could both tackle a new project. We're looking forward to being able to hold community events, including book clubs and readings with visiting authors, either in person or online, when we are able."
Each month, the owners will have "cousins" recommend new titles for the shop. "This keeps our book selections fresh and surprising, and cultivates a dynamic set of interests," Christopher said, adding, "We have a broad understanding of the word 'cousin' that recognizes the importance of our chosen family and our growing community."
Books can be purchased in person, online and through the sandwich shop's drive-thru window. "If you see a book you want (online), you can call Bill's Sandwich Shop and pay for your new book at the drive-thru window along with your order of chili cheese fries," Christopher said.