Here is a patience update: a thank-you for those of you have called or visited the new location hoping to find an open bookstore.
As of early February, the building – formerly the Francy Law Firm, just north of Commercial on Main Street – has been almost totally gutted by contractors to accommodate the bookstore. The attorneys had offices that were not suited to the retail display of books and the building’s owner, Mr. Roy Sturgeon, graciously agreed to remodel the space for a different purpose.
The contractor, Mr. John Skaggs, of Bixby, and his employees and subcontractors have been producing amazing and beautiful results in turning the structure into a modern-version of a turn-of-the-century storefront. New ceiling beams and columns serve to support the roof, wonderfully stained, and outfitted with elbow-level tables for book viewing or laptop wireless internet.
The century-old, now-rare tin ceiling tiles have been preserved and outfitted with matching corner molding that is painted to match the interior. Heating and air-conditioning ductwork has been moved. The loft has been resituated. Outdated bathrooms have been treated with sledgehammers and replaced with new, wheelchair accessible facilities.
The attorney’s office breakroom has been gutted and is being replaced by a licensed kitchen that will allow the serving of food and beverages.
Tables and chairs are purchased and awaiting delivery.
A beautiful floor is being installed as of Superbowl Sunday, another step in the process of getting shelves located and the book inventory restored. The grout is down. I wanted to walk on it and try it out, but refrained to let it dry.
There is a new front door, and new front window panes. Mr. Skaggs has tested a brick-paint to allow the façade to blend wonderfully into the two adjoining brick buildings. The front has already been thoroughly cleaned and prepped by workers atop a scaffolding.
As for the behind the scenes, non-structure work: meetings have been held to sample the fare that will be offered once the bistro portion of the new operation gets underway. Tables and chairs are at the ready. Cups are waiting to be filled with exotic coffees. Pastries to delight are standing by (well – truth to tell, we’ve eaten those on stand-by, but will have fresh ones ready!).
Credit accounts, as we’ve mentioned, are in place on the computer, and will be transferred in full to the new location.
Books have been purchased to add to the inventory. A new front counter will be installed as soon as feasible – in the meantime it awaits in safe storage.
Our customers have been dearly missed, and certainly your patience has been tested to some degree. Thank you for that.
I am certain you will enjoy the new store.
Bear with us over the coming next weeks as we approach the day the renovations are completed and we begin moving in…
