This store caters to families and this is evident as you walk in the front door and are greeted by large selections of tables laid out with children's picture books.
The afternoon I spent at the store, the kids outnumbered the adults. Much of the reason you see this, I'm told, is this area of Ohio has a higher than an average number of college graduates and there are a lot of families with kids. So, happily swapping book recommendations appears to be commonplace amongst families here.
If you look at their board, written in boldly colored chalk, you will see that they are big on book clubs. YEAH! So, it should be no surprise to learn that they place a large focus on mysteries and thrillers.
Yes! They have book clubs for adults and for youth too.
After checking out a few pretty picture books, I mosied to the back of the store and walked around observing the artwork on the walls. It brought a smile to my face as it resembles art often seen at our local town fair.
There are tables set up on either side of the store so there is ample space for customers to sit and read or color.
They stock biography, fiction, health, non-fiction, romance, and sportsbooks as well as many others. And, while much of the stores focus is on newer books they do have some bargain books and a small collection of vintage books too.
I love old black and white photography and am rather fond of Longfellow so I was more than pleased to find a copy to purchase of Longfellow's WAYSIDE INN, A Camera Impression by Samuel Chamberlain. When opening this book, one immediately recognizes Americana, and this book beautifully depicts the four seasons at the Wayside Inn some of my favorite images are B's. Ballroom, Bar Room, Barn, and Birches.
Gathering Volumes is beaming with books and art and is brilliant in more ways than one.
Gathering Volumes bookstore
196 E. South Boundary
Perrysburg. Ohio