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| Backwater Books in progress. | |
Backwater Books will launch soon at 8156 Main Street in Ellicott City, Md. The Baltimore Banner reported that Matt Krist, co-owner of the shop with his wife, Alli Krist, said he is looking forward to bringing back the written word to the building, once home to the Howard County Times newspaper.
The Krists are former teachers who left education during the pandemic, and are longtime readers and lovers of mystery novels for whom the idea of opening a bookshop seemed like a good fit.
"There's something very educational about bookstores. It's definitely kind of a romantic idea as well," Matt Krist said, adding that while the area has a used bookstore, Gramp's Attic Books, the historic district currently lacks a place to buy new titles.
In addition to a place to stock up on the latest thrillers, the Krists envision Backwater Books and the upstairs bar as a community gathering place with events for adults and children alike, the Banner noted. Another draw will be the bookstore dog, Chomsky, who will greet shoppers as they browse. "We hope people come by and take him for walks," Matt Krist said. The bookstore is set to open sometime in this month, with the bar opening at a later date.