New owner hopes to continue and expand on bookstore’s reputation

She hastened to add assurances, however, that many of the amenities customers have gotten used to in the Athens Book Center - the big comfy couches, the extensive used-book offerings, the coffee and smoothies bar - won't be going away. She's even keeping on the staff who want to remain.

"I feel the town needs this store, and I would especially like to make it more of a community center," explained Stephens, who officially took ownership of the business Aug. 10. Located at 74 E. State St., near the intersection with Stimson Avenue, the store was formerly owned by Dave Brennan, who ran the store as a mainly used-book outlet in the old Athens Mall.

"We will continued to sell new and used books," Stephens promised. "I treasure the fact that we've got used books, because that's a real added attraction to our store."

As for the types of books she carries, she said, "I think we'll keep pretty much what we have; there's no type of book right now I've seen that we should just not do."

However, Stephens added, in the used-book section "we need to just reduce the inventory a little bit." (Addictive bibliophiles be apprised and warned: the store is about to launch a buy-one, get-one-free sale on used books, to run through Sept. 1.)

In the shelf space that opens up, Stephens said, she would like to stock a few more books with a regional slant, on outdoorsy topics such as biking, hiking and canoeing. In addition, she said, "I do hope to increase the new books, particularly, and the best-seller trade books."

In picking out titles of better-selling new releases, however, Stephen said, she'll be looking at "not just the New York Times best-sellers, but the ones that are selling the best in bookstores such as ours." These are tracked on a list issued by the American Booksellers Association, which Stephens belongs to.

While still under the previous ownership, ABC earned a complimentary write-up last April in the Columbus Dispatch, which runs an occasional feature, "Driven to Read," profiling unusual bookstores in and near Ohio.

"Athens Book Center is neat and well-ordered unlike the jumbled, precariously balanced stacks to be found at some used bookstores," wrote reporter Steve Stephens. "But the store also offers a relaxed, almost homey ambiance, with comfortable couches and armchairs for patrons who would like to sample some of the wares on premises."

The article also mentioned the stuffed animals and hand puppets on sale in the store another aspect that Stephens said won't change.

One thing Stephens said she would like to do is make clear to prospective customers that she's not located in one of the malls. With an East State Street address, she said, "many people think we're out in the big shopping centers," she said. (Actually, the store is practically uptown, located in the little jog of the road near where West State turns into East State. The building used to be home to the Peddler and the Packer biking/hiking shop.)

She also wants customers to realize that like any viable bookstore in the Internet age ABC has an online component as well. Many of its used books are available for sale on sites such as eBay, and if a customer can't find a particular book in the store, the staff can quickly order it.

While special orders cost a little more, Stephens said, there is no extra charge for those added to one of the store's regular thrice-weekly book orders.

"If we don't have it in the store, we can get it within a couple of days," she said.

In deciding to buy the business, which was listed for sale with a local realtor, Stephens admitted, she wasn't in the market for a bookstore in particular.

But she knew she wanted to own a business in Athens that would allow her to contribute something to the community, and with her career background having been in adult basic education, the ABC seemed a perfect match. On the running-a-business side of things, she's getting help from advisers at Ohio University's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs.

"Just because the whole love of people being well-educated, and able to read, has been a part of my life for so long, this seemed like a great opportunity," she explained.