Bookhunters New & Used Books has opened in the Fabyan Randall Plaza shopping center in Batavia, Ill., the Daily Herald reported, noting that co-owners Vicki and Derrick Allison "want their store to be a fun place for readers to visit and browse."
"I grew up in a house with thousands of books," said Vicki Allison, a native of Johnson City, Tenn., who worked in a bookstore owned by her father, a Baptist minister, before opening her first bookstore in Carmel, Ind., under the Bookhunters name. She and her husband later operated a Bookhunters on Route 59 in Naperville, Ill., from 2009 to 2014.
After spending several years selling mail-order through online vendors, they learned of the vacant retail space at 1938 W. Fabyan Parkway in Batavia. "With a Trader Joe's grocery store next door, the Allisons decided the location and time were right to get back into the brick-and-mortar game," the Daily Herald wrote.
"It seemed like the demographics were right for us," Derrick Allison said.
Since opening July 1, Bookhunters has seen a steady stream of foot traffic and sales, though online sales remain a major part of the business.
Vicki Allison said they had anticipated that online sales would continue to make up the bulk of the sales (about 80%), but sales made directly from the shop and purchases made online have been about evenly split so far, which she considers an encouraging sign.