Visible Voice Books, which announced in August that it would be moving from Professor Ave. to 4601 Lorain Ave. in the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, reopened at its new location on November 12. The Plain Dealer (via MSN) reported that owner Dave Ferrante "has turned a 100-plus-year-old building into an extremely cool, modern, comfortable two-level atrium-style space. The vibe is a mix: It's as if a campus library, modern bookstore, bar, creative architecture and live-music venue all mixed together, resulting in what Ferrante has created. Toss in couches, a spiral staircase, a liquor license (craft beer and wine), and you have Visible Voice 2.0."
The building had formerly housed the Lorain Theater, then a supermarket, and an adult theater. "We gutted it," Ferrante said. "But it allowed us to fulfill our vision.... I always had this vision that to make a bookstore work. It can't be just a bookstore."
To achieve that goal, Ferrante created three spaces: a bookstore, a café, and a stage for live music and speakers. The space has room for three times as many books as its previous location. "The café and bookstore work off each other and build a community," he added, noting that music--both national and local acts--as well as authors and a speaker series will be ramping up in 2026.