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| (photo: Jeremiah Harlow/Cuyahoga Valley Media) | |
Woven Words Bookshop, selling new and used books, hosted its grand opening in October at 843 N Cleveland Massillon Rd. in Akron, Ohio. Co-owners and sisters Amy Ford and Lindsey Gartman said they "were overwhelmed by the response! We sold over 400 books and the feedback was so positive and filled with excitement." The shop also offers craft kits, as well as "book events and craft nights for everyone--no artistic experience required."
The original idea for the bookstore came during a family summer vacation in 2024 in the form of a simple question: "If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?" This sparked the beginning of their shared dream to open a bookstore and creative space built around connection.
Ford told Akron.com that they found themselves "literally Googling 'how to open a bookstore.' They refined their concept. They tuned into podcasts and joined the American Booksellers Association. They applied for and were granted a small business loan. They scouted locations. They talked about a name. They hosted pop-up events to test out their idea."
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| Woven Word owners Amy Ford and Lindsey Gartman (photo: Jeremiah Harlow/Cuyahoga Valley Media) |
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At their first pop-up, "Whatcha Reading? Book Club and Craft Night," attendees chatted about any book they were currently reading while weaving paper bookmarks. The event was held at a local vintage home goods store that turned out to be right across the street from their eventual bricks-and-mortar location.
Last March, they went to Florida to attend the Bookstore Training Group program run by Donna Paz and Mark Kaufman of Paz & Associates. "They truly equipped us and boosted our confidence as we began this journey," the owners said.
West Akron, where Gartman and her family had moved four years ago, was missing an independent bookstore. When a spot opened in Ghent Square, they knew they wanted the space, adding that "it's a lovely square with a toddler boutique, fillery store, jeweler, counseling offices, law and insurance offices, and a salon."
The co-owners grew up on the west side of Cleveland and were both drawn to art, design, and making things by hand. Ford is a lifelong reader and fiber-craft enthusiast, while Gartman is an art educator and design lover.
On the store's website, they note: "Woven Words is an independently female-owned bookshop and community craft space dedicated to bringing people together through stories and creativity. Our hope is to create a space where conversations flow, friendships form, and joy is sparked by what we read and make together. Because just like a tapestry, the books we love, the crafts we create, and the people we meet all become beautifully woven into the story of our lives."