Book Nook of Ohio Named an Outstanding Business

Book Nook of Warren, Ohio, turned 35 this month, but it's hardly complacent in its middle age.

Owned by Clyde and Jean Bolinger, Book Nook is open 78 hours a week, 362 days a year, and the Bollingers are working hard to succeed, especially since a major chain opened a store five miles away, four years ago. The store, originally 1,900 square feet, has expanded twice to reach its current 7,000 square feet. Adapting and thriving, the store just received the Pendleton Business Award from the Greater Youngstown-Warren Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Pendleton Award recognizes outstanding businesses that have fulfilled their criteria of longevity, integrity, willingness to give back to the community, providing employment in the community, aesthetics, and commitment to the city of Warren.

Since 1985, when the Bolingers bought out family members, Dick and Sandra Watts, who founded the store with Clyde in 1969, Book Nook has solidified its place in the Warren community by offering great customer service and support for local causes.

In an article announcing the award in Warren's Tribune-Chronicle, Stephanie Shaw, Sprint public affairs manager, noted that Book Nook, one of the only independent bookstores left in northeast Ohio, received the award because as the business grew, its owners never forgot others and gave back to the community that supported them.

Jean Bolinger told BTW that, in addition to its general book selection, Book Nook offers 2,000 magazine titles, Book Sense specialty picks lists around the store, as well as books and CDs by dozens of local authors and musicians. "If they don't get support from us," she said, "they may not get it at all. It's a struggling community -- many industries have moved out…. We have given over $50,000 to area school libraries since 1999 through our Free Books for Schools Program."

Five years ago the Bolingers adopted Jefferson Elementary School in Warren, where they spend half of their day off reading to the kindergarten and first grade classes. Book Nook also purchases food for community events held at the school. One Bolinger or the other, sometimes both, are involved with the Warren Plaza Merchants Association, the Trumbull Area Reading Council, and the planning committees of One Book, Two Counties. The store sponsors read-a-thons and provides space for local groups and charities to hold fundraisers. Seniors, teachers, and nonprofit groups all received special attention and discounts.

In their application for the Pendleton Business Pride Award, the Bolingers summed up their bookselling philosophy and, most likely, the key to their success:

"Each person who comes in the Book Nook is special to all members of our staff. A person visits our store because he or she has needs that it is our responsibility to fill. Even if he or she is just lonely, has no money to spend, or just needs to relax while browsing through a book and listening to soft music while patting Smokey, the store cat, he or she will find a refuge at Book Nook.... We all go the extra mile to ensure that all avenues of searching for a book are covered. No business lasts for 35 years without treating people with respect."

--Nomi Schwartz