Hidden Nook Booksellers, a general-interest bookstore with about 800 square feet of selling space, has opened for business in Grayling, Mich. Owners Rae and Liam Gosling opened their doors on Saturday, October 29, and carry new titles for children, teens and adults.
Rae Gosling reported that her "wheelhouse is nonfiction," particularly history and memoirs, while Liam Gosling "very much loves science fiction and historical fiction" along with horror. There is also an ample selection of children's books, with Gosling adding that her husband loves to read to kids and hosted the store's first storytime session on November 5. She noted that they expect the inventory to change with time, and "we're looking forward to our community telling us what their favorites are."
The bookstore's sideline offerings include literary-inspired gifts, bookmarks, book lights and totes, as well as "handcrafted treats" like chocolates and lollipops. Hidden Nook Booksellers also carries board games, which Rae Gosling described as their "other passion" aside from books. Customers won't find Monopoly or Clue but rather some modern classics like Ticket to Ride and other European-style games, sourced from companies such as Asmodee and "not usually found in Target."
Their first event was a storytime session on Saturday morning, and they plan to do those every weekend. The Goslings look forward to hosting local authors for readings and signings as well, and Rae Gosling remarked that they're "very fortunate" to already have relationships with some local authors in the region. Eventually they'll start hosting board game nights, so customers can have a chance to try out new games; Gosling pointed out that she and her husband own a copy of every game the store carries.
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| Rae and Liam Gosling with the custom counter they built. | |
Gosling said they are particularly proud of a custom checkout counter they built for the store. The body is made of old hardcover books that they stacked and glued together with a countertop above. The books were donated by community members, and the Goslings received far more than were needed for the counter. They've started making book art out of the extras, including "flying books" that they've hung from the ceiling with fishing line.
Prior to opening the bookstore, Rae Gosling worked in community economic development, helping small communities and small businesses promote themselves and make the most of their resources. While she's always wanted to own a bookstore, she imagined it would be something she did later in life, possibly after retirement.
The Goslings started thinking of it much more seriously about a year ago, when Saturn Booksellers in Gaylord, Mich., went up for sale. They looked into buying the bookstore but ultimately felt they couldn't make it work, as the Goslings have two children in middle school and Gaylord is around 35 minutes away. Given how important it is for small businesses to be active in their communities, they felt it would be a bit too taxing of a commute.
They decided they would "wait for a time to do something closer to home," and then in August they had an opportunity to purchase a building in downtown Grayling. Now, seven weeks later, "here we are," Gosling said.
Their original plan, she continued, was to open in mid-November, but the community was so eager for them to open that they "fast tracked" the process and opened their doors two weeks earlier than expected. "It's been a really great welcome," Gosling commented. People have been "so kind and generous," and "everyone who walks in is super stoked about it." --Alex Mutter