Storytime Bookshop in Kennewick, Wash., is searching for a new, permanent home after a fire in mid-March caused severe damage to its building and the loss of nearly all of its inventory, the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business reported.
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| Storytime's former location. | |
Though the bookstore will not be returning to 107 W. Kennewick Ave., it will be reopening in a temporary pop-up location on Independent Bookstore Day, April 25. The pop-up location will reside in a front corner of Discount Vac & Sew at 22 W. Kennewick Ave., and owner Lorelei Kennedy will be able to sell books and host storytime sessions while searching for a new location.
"The good news is that we have had a huge hand-up in starting to rebuild as quickly as possible," Kennedy wrote in an update posted to Instagram April 7. The bad news, she continued, was that "none of the inventory can be saved and some of the furniture will need to be replaced."
Kennedy noted that the bookstore could use volunteers to help with clearing out trash and furniture, and they are accepting donations of both books and money. "We're making the sweetest lemonade from this bad batch of lemons and are so grateful to this community for showing us such a wonderful outpouring of love."
The fire broke out on March 17 in a neighboring restaurant called El Tequilas, causing severe smoke damage to the bookstore and another neighboring business. The fire also weakened the building's roof, which later caused water damage.