Store Name: The Hidden Chapter Bookstore
Type: New and Used Books
"A place I didn't know I needed"
I went to Fort Thomas to meet a friend for dinner at the
Tickle Pickle. A quick search earlier that morning turned up The Hidden Chapter Bookstore. The pictures online made it look quite unique and it had great reviews on Google, a perfect 5.0 with 20+ reviews, so I decided to leave early for dinner and make a stop. Glad I did.
The pictures online didn't do the design of this bookstore enough justice. As I said in my intro post, I've been to well over 100 bookstores before I started blogging about them. This is likely the most unique bookstore that I've been in where the theme and experience is evident. Many of the newer bookstores are catering to the experience, not just the purchase. Dave and team have knocked it out of the park on that score. Before even going inside I could see the desk, some artwork, high backed chairs and of course high bookshelves that gave it an older feel. Walking through the door I had an immediate sense of being in a Victorian home or large study with the Victorian style chairs, ornate portrait frames, oval frames, antique tin ceiling, opulent chandelier, and some metal chairs that give it a bit of a steampunk futuristic vibe. Very cool space, very inviting. And I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the waistcoat that the owner, Dave, was wearing behind the counter...also very in character for the space.
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| Photo from Google |
Speaking of Dave and the waistcoat, I had only been through the door for a minute or two when he greeted me and asked if I had been in before. It was my first time so he offered to give me a personal tour of the space and tell me a little bit about the store. This kind of personal attention is one of the reasons I love independent bookstores!
True to the theme of the store, the largest bookshelf near the entry of the door is for Sci-Fi and Fantasy. The artwork atop the bookshelves has a heavy fantasy feel so fits well. Genres also include teen and young adult, romance, classics, horror, mystery, thriller, small children and nonfiction.”
Since I've started this blog and paid more attention to the genesis story of many newer bookstores I find that they were hatched in some form or fashion during the pandemic. Hidden Chapter was also plotted during the pandemic, Dave said, “My wife is the book worm, I'm more of a book dragon. During the pandemic while we worked at home we turned a room in our home into a library. We found ourselves wishing we could spend the rest of our lives like that, just drinking coffee, surrounded by books,” That thought manifested into a bookstore a few short years later!
Near the bar and checkout is a large wheelchair accessible table. It happened to be covered with books while I was there, but Dave is trying to make the space available and inviting to everyone. In fact he said he's heard more than once since he opened 3 months ago that this was "A place I didn't know I needed." I can see why people say that.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention they have beer, wine, and bourbon. Where was this in bookstores when I was younger? Way back then I guess it would have been shunned in society but not wanting to buck a good trend I had a Sam Adams Cold Snap while I was browsing the shelves. This is an experience I could get used to and I managed to find a couple of Hercule Poirot books for my collection.
This great little bookstore has only been open 3 months and while the name might be "hidden" this bookstore won't remain hidden for long!
That's the Lowe-down on The Hidden Chapter Bookstore! Tune in next week for a quick visit to The Little Professor Book Center in Athens, OH.
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