Their first move was an emergency. Their second was in the rain. Their third (and hopefully last, Kelley Limback said) was in the snow.
Now Chapters Books and Gifts is back in its original space at the corner of Seward Street and Highway 15.
“We’ve got the big pieces in place,” Limback said Feb. 5. “Now it’s tweaking.”
The store had to move out in August because of roof damage from the Aug. 9 windstorm.
Limback, the store owner, said Emily Nix Photography offered its storefront for 30 days, giving Limback time to find another temporary home.
“That was the sunniest move,” Limback said, adding that Concordia University athletes helped moved the inventory that day.
On Sept. 1, the staff and volunteers moved the inventory almost three blocks to the Marble Music building across from the Seward Bandshell. Shelves, books and boxes were moved in the rain that day, but the store was open again by Sept. 3.
Now that the downtown location has been repaired and refurbished (“we are structurally sound,” Limback said), on Feb. 1, the staff and volunteers were back in moving roles, transporting the inventory to the store – this time in the snow, Limback said.
“The way the community chipped in – it was crazy,” Limback said.
JB Ketner brought his tractor to help move shelving. Michelle and Kellan Meyer provided a covered trailer for books and other items. Carla Ketner and Sherri Menze helped pack and load, as well.
As boxes and shelves were brought back to the store, Limback and her staff spent about two hours walking through the space and planning where things would go – fiction here, children’s books here, puzzles here. Another hour on Feb. 2 finalized the plan, and shelves were placed in their final locations with books unpacked. The store reopened Feb. 3.
“There was a magic wand Monday to Tuesday,” Limback said. “We’re excited to be back in here.”
As the store has moved locations, Limback said she’s found some inventory she’d forgotten about.
“We have to rearrange and make space for it,” she said with a smile.
While the store was in its temporary home, crews changed the flooring and repainted the walls. The stage has been removed, making access to the children’s section easier.
Limback said artwork will be added to the walls and rugs on the floors, which are now tile and wood. The area in the back is being reworked for a community space in which Chapters can host events, she said. Or shoppers can come in and read.
“You can be around books and unplug a bit,” she said.
In looking back over the past six months, Limback said the experience has been a challenging one for a new business owner.
She is glad to be back in her space so she doesn’t have to split her attention between two locations. She expects everything to settle into a regular routine within the next month.
“It was always our goal to be back in here,” she said.
