Happy Medium Books Café, which opened in 2023 at 2724 Park St. in Jacksonville, Fla., is relocating about 50 yards down the street to a roughly 3,150-square-foot space at 2756 Park St. The last day of service at the original space is this coming Sunday, September 20. The Jacksonville Business Journal reported that for owner Dana Shutters, a retired teacher, "the short move represents a significant expansion for the Riverside bookstore and coffee shop, which has outgrown its home after nearly three years at Whiteway Corners."
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| Happy Medium will move to a larger location next month. | |
"The store won't change," Shutters said. "We will carry over the same vibe and events. We've expanded our offerings, though, and we need more space."
She and her husband, Billy Shutters, purchased the new property and are planning to reopen in early October. The additional room "will allow Happy Medium to expand the mix of books, coffee, art and programming that Shutters says has turned the business into a gathering place in the Park and King district," the Business Journal noted. Renovations are currently under way, including pressure washing, new paint, foundation work, and construction of retail, cafe, and performance areas.
About 1,600 square feet in the back of the building will be devoted to a stage and event space for author appearances, small performances, and other programming. It will also give Happy Medium considerably more room for one of its fastest-growing attractions: mahjong.
Shutters said she introduced mahjong lessons and open-play sessions in recent months and the store has already developed a following of at least 150 players: "It's just exploded. And it's been huge for business." At the new space, Happy Medium will dedicate six tables to mahjong four days a week, with morning and afternoon sessions Tuesday through Friday.
The growth in programming has prompted Shutters to begin searching for a part-time event coordinator, the Business Journal noted. The store also hosts genre-focused book gatherings, family programming, game clubs, and a book club for pregnant mothers. "All of those pieces are what makes Happy Medium a third space. Without one of those pieces, the store would be struggling," she said.