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| M. Judson in Greenville, S.C. | |
M. Judson Booksellers, which was launched 11 years ago in downtown Greenville, S.C., by writer Ashley Warlick and communications expert June Wilcox, is opening a second store on June 1 at 109 North Main St. in Fountain Inn, S.C., the State reported. Fountain Inn is about 20 miles away from the Greenville store.
Last week, M. Judson posted on Instagram: The secret's out! We're thrilled to announce M. Judson Booksellers opens in beautiful downtown Fountain Inn this June. We're thrilled to become a part of this vibrant community. A bookstore reflecting its place and its people."
"Fountain Inn became a focus a couple of years ago. Located in the southern tip of Greenville County and northern Laurens County, the city of about 11,000 is growing rapidly, especially with young families," the State wrote. "Its tree-lined main street features brick storefronts, filled with meeting spaces and restaurants, including a coffee shop and one with a rooftop bar."
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| M. Judson's new location in Fountain Inn, S.C. | |
Warlick noted that there is a food hall behind the bookstore and a splash pad, run by the city's recreation department, recently opened. The kids' section of M. Judson Fountain Inn will be a highlight. She added that there are a lot of original details in the building, including a pressed-tin ceiling and polished concrete floor.
At 2,200 square feet, it's slightly less than half the size of the Greenville store. The art installation created from discarded books at the Greenville store will be replicated in Fountain Inn.
"Staff picks are essential to what we do," said Warlick, author of four novels including, most recently, The Arrangement. She said she learned her biggest lesson on day two of M. Judson, and she remembers it every day: "How important flexibility is. Pay attention to your people and your community. This is a business that should be joyous. I've learned to be excited about the opportunities to grow."
Warlick told WYFF: "For years and years, we have talked about the possibility of expanding what we do here in downtown Greenville to other communities that we love, and recently, we decided that we would like to open a shop in Fountain Inn. It's a community that, that is ready for its own bookstore and its own reflection of how wonderful it is."