We are closing our retail store…
It is with a very sad heart that we are announcing that we are closing our retail location at 138 W. Main St. in downtown Circleville.
While there are many reasons we made the final decision to close the retail store, the bottom line is while the sales were growing, the revenue from in store sales is still very weak. Well, for the last 9 months they have totally stunk, but most of us know that story. Lol Aside from that, the new landlord has told us to move out, so he can work on the roof and building!
I want to first of all thank the many, many people who have made the past 3 years so special! Serving the Circleville community has just been so awesome. So many of you have stopped in to express your support and for that we are grateful. While we regroup we hope you will continue to follow our Facebook page and keep up with updates as we work to first of all recover, then regroup and from there….we’ll see.
If we are totally honest, the bookstore has always been more of a passion or hobby than an actual money maker for us. Partially because of our love for books and partially because we love the downtown atmosphere. My family and I have invested countless hours in to our little downtown Circleville book and pottery store, but sadly, it is time to move on to new horizons.
The good part is we will still see you in the community at events as we cover stories for the Dimple Times and The Circleville Guide (site under construction). So be sure to say, “HI”, if we don’t notice you.
As a family, we still believe in the model we opened in downtown Circleville and feel that we could have expanded and grown, but with the current state of the building we are in and the fact that we have lost our backside in the last 9 months we need to take a few steps back and regroup. Not only for the sake of the business, but for the sake of our family.
One of the huge regrets outside of missing all of you is to not be able to have a retail store next to Author Alley that happens during the Fall Arts and Crafts Fair. For this year we plan on still using the alley that the Circleville DBA obtained and the City of Circleville approved. We will do everything we can to help Author Alley continue to be a part of the downtown Circleville area.
Over the next couple of weeks we will be having our “store closing sale”. These discounts will apply to the books, pottery and games so please come in and help us get things moved out.
Starting August 16th, everything will be 50% off.
On August 23rd, all books and games will be 75% off until we close and pottery will be 50% off.
On September 6th and 7th the prices will be as follows:
– All used children’s books and mass market paperback books will be .50 cents each
– All other used books will be $1 each
– Games/puzzles remain at 75% off
– Pottery remains at 50% off
– No discounts on author books
*These discounts apply to cash, there will be a 5% surcharge for credit card. All sales final.
Right now we are still unsure of when our “last day” is as our previous landlord said we have until the end of September but the new landlord, who takes over some time in September, is pushing to get us out the door faster, so he can start working on the roof. Either way, we have to respond and respond fast. So please, please come in and buy a book or two or 100. Maybe a table? While we do have storage space for some things, we do not have space for everything.
Store Credits
If you have a store credit please come in before we close to use it, but the prices of the items will be the prices on the books and not with the discounts given above.
Turn in books?
Yes, you can still turn in books as we plan to continue to collect books, regroup and, well, we will announce more on that later. At that time we will no longer accept books for trade in.
Ohio Authors
If you are an Ohio author with books in our store please contact us to work on details to get your books back to you.
THANKS AGAIN!
We again cannot thank the community enough for being a part of Keystone Books over the past 3 years. Trust me when we say that it is with a grave, grave heart that we have made this decision. Although the book and pottery store has not made it to the point of making money we have had a blast and as already mentioned, we believed we would eventually make it there. At this point push has come to shove, and we are literally being asked to GET OUT. Well, maybe not quite as mean as that sounds, but we are being asked to move out, so they can fix and hopefully replace the roof so future tenants don’t have to go through the same things we have in the last 9 months.
Book Signing Opportunity for Authors at The Pumpkin Show
If you’re a local Ohio author, join us October 17th – 20th, 2018 during the Pumpkin Show for a series of book signings hosted by Keystone Books and Gifts.
The Circleville Pumpkin Show is THE Greatest Free Show on Earth and it draws in thousands upon thousands of people from all over. If you’re looking to get yourself in front of a decent sized crowd, the Pumpkin Show would be a great event to consider!
Here’s a look at our times available for the 2018 Book Signing at the Pumpkin Show:
Wednesday, October 17th –
11am – STILL OPEN
1pm – Author Gerhard Maroscher – View Event Details Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2018667375091794/
5pm – STILL OPEN
Thursday, October 18th –
11am: Author Sandi Latimer – View Event Details Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/364588354083831/
1pm: Author Cinda Pontious – View Event Details Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/274809593141270/
5pm: Rachel & Isaac of the Dimple Times – View Event Details Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/423172375100878/
Friday, October 19th –
11am – STILL OPEN
1pm – STILL OPEN
5pm: Author R.L. Patterson – View Event Details Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1122869061210535/
Saturday, October 20th –
11am: Author Sherri Hayes – View Event Details Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/330258994412016/
1pm: Author Josef Matulich – View Event Details Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1444564465676887/
3pm – STILL OPEN
5pm: Author Eliot Parker – View Event Details Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/477502902752814/
Rules and Suggestions for this event:
Book sales will be through Keystone Books & Gifts (138 W. Main St.). If you are a new author, be sure to email us a list of your book titles and prices. You can contact us about information in regards to consignment by calling 740-474-7526 or by emailing [email protected].
The times listed above are on a first come, first serve basis. If you
wish to be a part of this event, you must send us an email confirmation
with the date and time you wish to have your signing at. We will let you
know if this time is available.
All requests to be a part of this event MUST be done via email or via
Facebook messenger so that it is time stamped. Time is not officially
assigned until you receive an email or Facebook message back stating
that you are confirmed. You are welcome to call and ask questions but
we will not agree to any times without a time stamped email.
There will be a fee for being a part of this event. If you wish to
attend on Wednesday or Thursday, the cost to participate is $15 and if
you wish to attend on Friday or Saturday, the cost is $30. Payments can
be made by stopping into the store to pay with a check or card, or by
calling us on the phone and giving us a credit card number. Times are
not confirmed and your spot is not guaranteed until payment is made.
This fee is not refundable.
In the event that you are coming to this signing, we recommend only
bringing the very basics for this signing, as you will be set up in our
tent on Main St and space will be VERY limited. We recommend only
bringing your books. We will provided a table, a chair and a table cloth.
Since the Pumpkin Show is a popular event, we recommend arriving early
and finding a parking spot as close to the show as possible. The later
in the day you wait, the harder it will be to find a spot. You will also
want to leave any books you are bringing to the signing in your car, as
we will not have space to store your books in the back of store with the
volume of people we are expected to have roaming through our store. We
recommend showing up one at least a minimum of (1) hour before your
scheduled time to set up for your signing, giving you time to maneuver
the crowd. Please note that the later in the week we get with Pumpkin
Show (weather permitting), the bigger the crowd gets. Come Friday and
Saturday, you will definitely want to arrive early in the morning as
possible and stay within the show so you can make it to your signing.
In the event that it rains at the time of your signing, you will be
given the option to set up inside our store. However, any other time you
will be sat up in the tent out on the street, as you will be seen more
and have more of an opportunity to interact with customers. It is
required, however, that you stay within the parameter of the tent. Going
beyond the tent will lead to security or volunteers talking to you.
ALL sales will be done through Keystone Books and a check will be cut
and mailed to you after the Pumpkin Show is over.
If you plan to be a part of this event, be sure to reply to this email
with the date and time you want to have your signing at. You must send
us an email confirmation in order for us to add you to our event and you
must make your payment.
If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to give us a call
at 740-474-7526, or send us an email.
>>ATTENTION OHIO AUTHORS<<
If you are an author and wish to sign up for our AUTHOR’S mailing list you can do so by using the following link: http://eepurl.com/ct3jQP
Quick View of 2018
We are so excited about some of the things that are happening in 2018. We will still be celebrating “Independent Bookstore Day”, our 2nd birthday party will be in September, Author Alley, book signings, pottery parties and so many things that we did in 2017 but there is more on the horizon.
For the first week of January 2018 we will be working on a store reset during the time our landlord is redoing the front portion of our store. Our goal for the reset is to be able to get MORE BOOKS added to our inventory. We have thousands more books but simply not enough space to put them out. Since we don’t have plan-o-grams from a corporate office and most of our shelving is made in house by my family it is pretty much up to us to make it work.
We are working on the details of many of the new events and will start announcing more info on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/keystonebooksandgifts/) or you can keep up with happenings by being a part of our mailing list that you can join here: http://eepurl.com/b5DbX1
Thanks to everyone who helped make 2018 so awesome!
Empty Bowls Pickaway County
Empty Bowls is an international effort to fight hunger, implemented in Pickaway County, Ohio by Keystone Books & Gifts to benefit Walk The Talk Outreach Ministries and their Mobile Food Pantry. This unique fundraiser is a collaboration between area small businesses, ceramists and artist.
— EMPTY BOWL CREATION PARTIES —
This is a unique opportunity for ceramists and artist to create a soup bowl for the upcoming 2018 Empty Bowl events happening at area participating Pickaway County restaurants. With Keystone Books the way that it works is when you purchase one bowl at regular price, you will get to paint a second bowl for FREE that will be donated for the events.
- November 17, 2017 – Keystone Books and Gifts
- November 29, 2017 – Keystone Books and Gifts
- December 21, 2017 – Keystone Books and Gifts
- December 30, 2017 – Keystone Books and Gifts
- January 10, 2018 – Keystone Books and Gifts
- January 26, 2018 – Keystone Books and Gifts
- February 7, 2018 – Keystone Books and Gifts
- February 17, 2018 – Keystone Books and Gifts
To book your own party at Keystone Books with a party of 10 or more please contact us at 740-474-7526. We can also have a paint party at your location with parties of 10 or more.
PLEASE NOTE: Bowls do not have to be made at Keystone Books and Gifts and can be donated as long as they are hand crafted or painted. Basically something that would stand out to someone to help remind them of all the Empty Bowls in our world.
— EMPTY BOWL SOUP EVENTS —
For a minimum $10 donation, folks will be able to purchase a bowl of soup at one of the participating Pickaway County restaurants on one of the dates listed below, starting in March 2018. This will be done during the restaurants normal business hours and can be ordered along with any other items on their menu. When you purchase the bowl for $10 the soup is donated by the participating restaurant. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Mobile Food Pantry from Walk the Talk Ministries. To serve as a reminder of all the empty bowls in our community and the world you will get to keep the bowl that you choose.
- March 19, 2018 – Gibbys Eatery & Sports Bar
If you are a restaurant in Pickaway County and wish to be a part of this unique fundraising opportunity please contact us here or on Facebook.
— ABOUT MOBILE FOOD PANTRY —
The Mobile Food Pantry, a part of Walk the Talk Ministries is a 501(c)3 Christian Organization that delivers food to residence within the county that have difficulty making it to a food pantry.
To keep up with events Keystone Books and Gifts please sign up for our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/b5DbX1
Open 7 Days a Week Countdown
Yes, you heard it right! As of September 10, 2017 we will be open SEVEN DAYS A WEEK! September is going to be an exciting month is so many ways and this is just part of the fun.
Please see the contact page for current hours as they do fluctuate according to the time of year.
There are a lot of exciting things happening in September as we celebrate our 1 year birthday, so stay tuned!
Summer Sizzler Sidewalk: Hot Summer, Hot Read Deals!
The Summer Sizzler sidewalk sale is coming up next week! This is the perfect time to stop Downtown, as Downtown Circleville shops will be offering their best buys of the summer. We will be offering some “Hot Read Deals” during this event, so be sure to stop down! For the best selection Thursday morning is probably your best bet but we will restock each day as we won’t be able to put every thing out at once because of space. Discover treasures just right for back to school reading, decorating your coffee table, or stocking your library. Get them while they last!
SIDEWALK SALE BOOK PRICES:
Hardback – $3
Softcover – $2
Paperback – $1
Children’s Books – $1
These prices will only be applicable on books OUTSIDE the bookstore in the tent. They also must be paid for in the tent. Cash sales only in the tent. Not valid with other offers.
Blind Date with a Book
Here’s something a little different for the book lover! Why not go on a “Blind Date with a Book” based on basic descriptions? Normally when we pick up a new book it is based on many things including what the cover of the book looks like. So what we are doing is picking out various books, marking them down to about 1/4th of what the normal cover price would be, and wrapping them in brown paper. You save a little money. Pick up a unique book. And you get to go on a “Blind Date with a Book”.
Please note that dinner, wine and candlelight are not provided.
When Normal Blew Up
When Normal Blew Up: The Story of the People Who Died and the People Who Lived On
This book has been very popular over the past few weeks. Since the 50th anniversary of this tragic event is coming up April 15th this books brings it to the forefront in a powerful, touching way.
BOOK BIO
In 1967, in the small town of Circleville, Ohio, a man walked into an old-fashioned drug store on a busy Saturday and laid a smoking package on the pharmacy counter in the back. He shouted for everyone to leave, he had a bomb. The store owner grabbed the package and ran down the back hallway. The man chased the owner, grabbed him and struggled to take the package away. A pharmacist saw what was happening, raced after both, and tried to pull the two apart. A clerk was standing at the back door. A bookkeeper was in the back office, unaware. The bomb went off. Five people died that day, leaving five spouses and fifteen children to grieve in silence, and a stunned community to pick up the pieces. Fifty years later, Joni Foster, who was nine at the time and daughter to the pharmacist who died, began a quest to find out in detail who these people were and what exactly happened. Over nine months, she would interview members from each family to hear their stories of what life was like before, what happened that day, and how they moved forward. Most of the people she interviewed had never told their story before to anyone, including members of their own families. The story is a tragedy, a history lesson on the slow, painful emancipation of women, and ultimately a love story to the families trying to live normal lives.
Pick up the book inside our store during normal business hours or you can purchase it on Facebook here.
Homeschool Students
We want to start a new tradition for Homeschoolers in Pickaway County. While you can stop in any time you want to paint your own pottery we are going to have special classes the 4th Thursday of each month (except some holidays). There will be a special piece chosen that you can paint or you can choose to do one of our other pieces.
Watch the Keystone Books Facebook page or website for special Homeschool art classes happening throughout the year.
Keystone Books and Gifts is located in downtown Circleville, Ohio at 138 W. Main St. Call them at 740-474-7526 for more info.