Blue Heron Sighted in Peninsula, Ohio

The scenic business district of Peninsula, Ohio, will boast an independent bookstore after many years, when Blue Heron Bookstore opens on Saturday, May 1. The store's 4,000-square-foot building, with wood-burning stove, spiral staircase, and courtyard, occupies space that in the past has housed an 1880s saloon, an automotive repair shop, and an antiques store. The village of Peninsula, population 602, 10 miles from Akron and 25 miles south of Cleveland, is also the home of the popular Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Businesses there hope to attract customers to its quaint eateries, gift stores, antique shops, and art galleries, with the annual May Stroll, to be held this weekend.

Debbie Farris, manager of Blue Heron Bookstore, spent about 10 years in retail before taking on bookselling. She became acquainted with the store's co-owner, Deborah D'Andrea, about three years ago when they "landed in the same book club," she told BTW. D'Andrea owns the store with spouse, Joseph. Since the store is located in the heart of the National Park, Farris told BTW, "there are millions of visitors a year biking, hiking, kayaking, bird watching, and photographing. A prime attraction is a towpath along a long canal; I can look out our window and practically see the trail," she said. "Most people come to the park between May and late fall -- but Christmastime is also very popular because the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad does a huge Polar Express." Thomas the Tank Engine also takes passengers periodically, attracting enormous crowds.

Farris told BTW that the store's inventory mix will reflect the interests of the many visitors to the area and will include general trade books. Sections will feature books on nature, home, garden, photography, bird watching, health, and antiques. Families will be welcome in the "very cute" children's section, and the spiral staircase, now covered by an artificial tree for safety, will lead up to the "heron's nest," where regular storytimes will take place.

"[Blue Heron] will be signing on to all the Book Sense programs," Farris said. When the store's Web site, www.blueheronbookstore.com, is up and running, it will offer BookSense.com service. Prepackaged snacks, sandwiches, and ice cream will be sold at the store, but not coffee -- that will always be free. --Nomi Schwartz