Independently owned, community bookstores are the backbone of the local literary community. In a world of e-books, glowing tablets and online ordering, the Book House has stood the test of time for more than 30 years offering an eclectic assortment of new, used, rare and out-of-print books from a character-filled Victorian house in Rock Hill. In an abrupt set of circumstances befitting the despair of Dickensian tale, this year has seen the Book House suddenly forced by the landlord and developer, out of their beloved historic cottage, sending owner Michelle Barron on a quest to find a new home for her book store and the more than 250,000 titles housed within its walls.
“It breaks my heart to leave our wonderful building, but we have no choice. It has not been an easy transition but with the support of our loyal fans I believe we can grow and bring the soul and spirit with us to our new location in Maplewood and become bigger and better than ever,” says Michelle Barron, owner.
The bittersweet move brought with it more than the challenge of carefully carting thousands of books down Manchster Road. Once settled in the new spot Barron was faced with the challenge of remodeling the space, which has sat vacant for nearly 18 years, unexpected construction costs proved to be a major drain on the Book House’s estimated budget.
In order to open their doors to new neighbors and loyal customers in Maplewood, the Book House needs at least $25,000 for construction to meet building code. Without support from the community, this could be the last chapter for the Book House.
How can YOU help? Barron is launching a fundraising campaign to reach out to local authors, readers and book lovers to help Build the Book House. Funds raised from the donations will go directly toward efforts to finish the next phase of construction.
In an effort to engage local lovers of literature, the Book House is teaming up with their Maplewood neighbors, Schlafly Bottleworks, to host a fundraising event on November 15, at 8:00pm, featuring craft beer, local author readings and a silent auction. It promises to be a great evening of fun and adventure!
If you are interested in purchasing books, tickets to the event or making a donation, please email info@bookhousestl, call 314-968-4491, or visit 7352 Manchester Rd St. Louis, MO, 63143.