A Maplewood business is trying hard to be open by Black Friday.
When The Book House reopens at 7352 Manchester Road (from its decades in Rock Hill) approximately a third of the street level space will be open, the other section is older and requires more work, and more money. Owner Michelle Barron is busy trying to raise money to renovate the entire space, and also open for the Christmas shopping season.
“We have to be open that weekend,” she said. “The store will open the minute the building inspector OKs it.” The online store is always open.
She’s rehabbed the basement, which is where the books are now. They’ll have to be moved upstairs. Eventually the basement will be retail space.
“It’s not going to be pretty when we open,” she said. “It’s not going to be like a grand opening. We’ll have to do that in January or February.”
Barron said they’re hoping to raise money next year and maybe get historic tax credits for all the renovation work.
“I need like $50,000. I’m still short,” she said.
She’s hoping a silent auction on Nov. 15 at the Schlafly Bottleworks will help the cause.
“A lot of local authors are donating signed copies of their books, and a lot of them are putting together little baskets around the theme of their book. It’s really cute.” She said.
The event will include music and book readings. Buy tickets here.
Also, watch for a new Kickstarter campaign from The Book House.
“We’ve still got a zillion things to do,” Barron said.