The Copper Bell Bookshop opened October 1 in Ridgefield, Wash., the Reflector reported. The store sells general-interest titles for all ages, along with gifts and nonbook items like art supplies, journals and candles.
Prior to opening Copper Bell Bookshop, owner Debra Warnock worked as a realtor for more than 30 years. She told the Reflector that she's been planning to open a bookstore for nearly 10 years, though "in the beginning, it was more like dreaming about it and kind of laying out what I would do."
The longer she thought about it, the more serious the idea became, and eventually she joined the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association and started learning the ropes of running an independent bookstore. She spent three years as a prospective PNBA member while "trying to pull everything together and get a location." She noted that after the Covid-19 pandemic began, she and her husband, Paul Warnock, nearly dropped the idea, but decided instead to keep forging ahead.
Warnock plans to host a variety of community-focused events, including book club meetings and storytime sessions. The store's initial author events will be with local authors, with Warnock looking to gradually expand from there. "Our goal is to keep building the community involvement and our level of events that we offer."
She added that her aim has been to make the bookstore warm, comfortable and welcoming, where "people can come in and visit and shop and talk books."