Appalachian Pages, an all-ages, general-interest bookstore, opened August 7 in Pikeville, Ky., Mountain Top News reported.
Located at 107 Weddington Branch Rd., in the Crossroads Plaza in Coal Run, Appalachian Pages carries "all genres" and a "little bit of everything," said owner Austin Green. The store features a children's section and a reading room, and stocks nonbook items like candles, toys, and journals. Green plans to start hosting author signings, book clubs, and other events once things settle down and he gets past the "learning curve." Two events already on the books include a storytelling workshop with a local children's author and a Gilmore Girls re-watch party.
Green told Mountain Top News that he's been an avid reader since childhood and has spent "an ungodly amount of money on books over the years." He decided to open a bookstore because it was "something our area really needed," with the nearest major bookstore being two hours away. He owned a different business prior to starting his career as a bookseller, and selling that allowed him to make Appalachian Pages a reality.
"As an avid reader myself, this has long been a dream for me to own a bookstore and bring the love of holding a book and actually turning pages to both youth and adults alike," Green told the Appalachian News-Express.
The store's opening day was a success, Green said, with more than 200 books sold.