Lakewood, N.Y., Store Has New Owners

Off the Beaten Path bookstore, Lakewood, N.Y., has new owners, the Post-Journal reported. Judy and Katie Gustafson have sold the store to Bob Lingle, who has seven years of experience working in and managing bookstores. Lingle and his wife, Shannon, who teaches at a local high school, and their children moved to the area in 2016 from Buffalo.

"This is the ideal bookstore, and it's exactly what I've always wanted," Lingle told the paper. In January, "I saw the post [that the store was for sale], met with Judy the following day and found what she was asking to be extremely reasonable. So I spent the rest of that weekend putting together a business plan, and walked into the bank the following Monday to get the ball rolling."

Off the Beaten Path carries new and used books, Melissa and Doug toys, gifts and journals.

As for changes, Lingle said he plans to hold a monthly children's storytime event--as did original owner Holly Richardson--and start a monthly newsletter.

This coming Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., the store is hosting a "meet the new owners" event that will include cookies, a 10% discount on everything in the store and five chances to win $10 gift cards.

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