The Hobbit Gets An Improved Hall

Hobbit Hall's owner Kim Dickie certainly doesn't sound new to bookselling -- the children's bookstore in Roswell, Georgia, has over 30,000 titles; five storytimes a week; over a dozen weeklong sessions of summer day camp; book fairs; sidewalk sales; and events for every holiday -- but she's only been a bookseller since March 2003.

Hobbit Hall, a children's bookstore in Roswell, Georgia.

Granted, Dickie bought an existing bookstore -- Hobbit Hall was opened in 1990 and some of the programs were already in place. However, she seriously upped the ante, adding significant inventory, storytimes, and more categories of summer camp, along with a holiday camp for Christmas.

Dickie had no experience in the book industry, but her background was in special events, camps, and children's programs, and she has an MBA in sports marketing and management, with a focus on event planning and public relations. She also worked on the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG). "All my different experiences came together after ACOG," she explained. "I had business experience in project management and financial management in the corporate world and felt ready to run a small business."

Daily story hour at Hobbit Hall.

She wanted to own her own store where she could take her two young sons, who happen to have a voracious appetite for children's books, and have a somewhat flexible schedule. After doing quite a bit of research, she bought Hobbit Hall from former owner Anne Ginkel. It's been a work in progress.

Dickie added to the number of camps offered by Hobbit Hall. Formerly, the store offered drama; she added creative writing, art, music, and science, and a holiday camp for Christmas. Each session is one week, is taught by professional instructor, runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and costs $175. The bookstore, which is a renovated two-story cottage, uses its 600-square-foot program room, along with its outdoor garden for the camps and other events.

Hobbit Hall also uses the program room, a colorful space where kids can sprawl out on the floor, for the almost daily storytimes. Booksellers often dress in costume and play musical instruments. Costumes are usually borrowed from publishers, though they do have their own "Clifford the Big Red Dog" outfit since he makes such regular appearances. Dickie said the most books chosen to be read come from Book Sense Children's Bestseller list.

Hobbit Hall interior.

The store also hosts events for adults, including a Teacher/Media Specialist Wine and Cheese Event, where teachers and media specialists are invited to get inside information from reps about new releases and author/illustrator future works and release dates. Galleys are available, along with posters, teacher resources, and other giveaways.

Dickie reported that the past year and a half have been "wonderful," though "overwhelming," adding that she is proud of all her hard work to improve Hobbit Hall. In fact, she was working on developments that are even more substantial. "Things have been going very well. There have been ups and downs related to business issues, but the store itself is great. It's been a wonderful experience to be able to bring my kids to [work]. I'd love to open a second store." --Karen Schechner