Rolling Rabbit Books, a children's bookstore in Byron Center, Mich., has more than doubled in size, and recently hosted a community party to celebrate its expansion, WOOD reported. The shop, which opened in 2023, had initially taken up only 900 square feet of the 2,200-square-foot space.
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| Rolling Rabbit owner Gina Rabitoy | |
"We knew when we moved in (that) it was going to be too expensive to try and renovate the full 2,200 square feet, because it was very unfinished. It needed a lot of work and a lot of love," owner Gina Rabitoy recalled, adding that she initially focused on renovating the front part of the space. "My dad had the creative idea to divide the space, and so we put in some temporary panels that kind of made a wall."
Since launching the bookshop, she has worked to save money and get established in the community, noting: "Eventually, after about two and a half years, it felt like we were outgrowing the 900 square feet," she said. "So we started working every single weekend." Renovations began earlier this year and continued for almost five months. The space needed flooring, lighting, ceiling work, "a lot of paint," along with other cosmetic upgrades.
When the newly renovated store was finally revealed at the community gathering, Rabitoy said it was "the best day ever," as well as the best sales day in the store's history. "It was so fun just to get the feedback from people and see the kids enjoying the space," she added. "It was incredible."
She called the expansion "a dream come true.... This has been on my mind ever since we opened. I didn't want to make that jump before I really felt like the business was ready, but I'm just, like, over the moon that it's finally happened."
Rolling Rabbit Books has added a wide selection of toys, along with more seating and a "quiet closet," which Rabitoy described as "a cute little cozy nook." There is also much more space for events, like holiday-themed parties. "We really wanted to be able to offer more variety and just be a place where people can gather," she said.