This summer, Sassafras on Sutton will open a second location, Sassafras on Main, in downtown Waynesville, N.C. At 17,000 square feet, the new store is nearly three times the size of the original store in Black Mountain, N.C., which owner Susanne Blumer opened in 2018.
Blumer reported that the new store will span three levels of a historic building that dates back to the 1870s. Around 10,000 square feet of the space will be used for retail and events, while the rest will be used for shipping, receiving and storage. Like Sassafras on Sutton, Sassafras on Main will be a general-interest bookstore and toy store, but the toy and book selections will be more mixed together (in the original store, they are located on separate floors).
Additionally, Sassafras on Main will have a dedicated space on the third floor for author events and children's birthday parties, as well as a puzzle and gaming area on the lower level. Blumer and her team will also make use of the greater retail space to have a larger Christian book section, more store merchandise, a bigger baby area with registry, and more STEM toys.
Blumer explained that she started looking for a space for a second store last summer. She wanted a location that would work well for a mix of books and toys and was not too far from the original store. Waynesville is about 45 minutes away from Black Mountain and the towns are very similar. She added: "We fell in love with the building the first time we saw it and are thrilled to become part of Main Street."
Blumer hopes to have Sassafras on Main open to the public by late July.