 |
|
| At the Storybook Shoppe's new location. | |
The Storybook Shoppe, Bluffton, S.C., reopened on Saturday in a new location, in Tanger Outlets 2, "persevering as a Hilton Head area community staple," the Island Packet reported. On January 5, the children's store was told by its landlord that it needed to vacate its longtime home by February 10. The store had had a month-to-month lease for years.
Owner Sally Sue Lavigne told the Island Packet that Tanger Outlets reached out to her at the end of January and since then they've been painting, assembling bookshelves and preparing to create a "beautiful magical environment."
While the move has been "crazy," Lavigne said it's been worth it to see community members enjoying the store once again, adding, "Bookstores are the heart of a community. They're not only a place to get a book, but they're a place to gather and meet new friends."
Lavigne purchased the bookstore from previous owner Nancy Beaupre in 2015. Her landlord, Peter Palladino, bought the building in 2016. Palladino also gave notice to another small business in the building, in order to make room for a new tenant that will occupy the entire commercial space.