Book lovers couldn’t pass up chance to own bookshop
A self described bookworm, Kate Simpson said she always dreamed of owning a bookshop.
As a child she could often be found curled up with a book. She recalls her first ‘job’ was head librarian for her teddy bears, each of whom had a library card.
She and husband Joel Simpson are the new owners of Curiosity House Books, which has been a staple business in Creemore since it was opened by Chris and Pat Raible in 1995 and stewarded by a list of subsequent owners.
“It is one of the reasons we moved here, because we loved the bookshop,” said Kate.
The couple sold their house in Toronto and a cottage near Priceville to relocate to Creemore in April, a move that was meant to simplify their lives.
The Simpsons found themselves making detours to Creemore while spending time at the cottage, lured by the farmers’ market, cafés and the bookstore. They began ordering all of their reading material from Curiosity House Books.
When the owner emailed them to ask if they would like to buy the business, it was a surprise.
Joel said, “This is something we would have wanted to do maybe down the road but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”
He said they went looking for assurances from the current staff that they would promise to stay on before agreeing to the purchase, a move that didn’t really jive with their plans to simplify.
Joel and Kate both work full-time – Joel in IT support for an archive software developer and Kate in legal technology and AI – so they will be depending on their staff for customer service, although customers may find them in store from time to time.
“We have always searched out independent bookstores,” said Joel. “The bit that’s fun for us is the curation.” They plan to stock the shelves with a wide selection of books, while getting to know the community’s interests. While Kate gravitates towards literary fiction and contemporary classics that contain big ideas and complex characters, Joel leans more toward non-fiction on the topics of current affairs, politics, finance, and biographies – and being the cook in the family, he has an appreciation for cookbooks.
They also see a local appetite for books about fitness and gardening, and plan to host authors and form partnerships to create events that will make the bookstore a destination.
“There are many fascinating people in this community and I want the bookshop to represent that,” said Kate.
A new mural depicting an octopus garden will serve as the backdrop for an expanded children’s section. The octopus, being a representation of fun and intelligence, will serve as the store’s mascot. During a grand re-opening celebration on Family Day weekend, Feb. 14-16, children will be invited to help choose a name for the oversized stuffy that will reside in the children’s area.
The Simpsons plan to continue with the membership program which offers discounts and early access to events, depending on the level. They will also continue the buy-back program for books purchased at the store, which are resold.
Store hours in February are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, with plans to add Wednesday hours between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. in March.
The Simpsons have launched a new website where people can order online and pick-up in store. Visit www. curiosityhousebooks.com. Curiosity House Books is located at 178 Mill St.
