Jennifer Vollbrecht had a decade-long dream of opening up her own book store.
That dream became a reality on Oct. 7 as the Ripon Bookstore opened its door in a prime location along the historic downtown.
“It’s exactly what Ripon need,” local resident Laura Smart said. “There’s something so special about having a local book store – a place where you can browse, chat, and feel part of something special.”
Open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Ripon Bookstore at 204 W. Main St. offers new releases along with “a thoughtfully curated collection for readers of all ages,” said Vollbrecht, who is also an author.
She’s a U.S. Marine Corps veteran – from 2004 through 2009 – who saw action in the Middle East. That experience inspired her to pen “My Mom is a Veteran” – the book can be found at the front desk of her new shop.
It took about three years to put her book together. “I also had to hire an illustrator,” Vollbrecht said on Tuesday.
No surprise that she’s a lifelong reader who enjoys sharing stories. Among her favorite reads are historical books about World War II.
Melissa Beal, who is one of a handful of Ripon Bookstore employees, also shares a love for books, in particular, genres such as thrillers, fantasy, and horror.
“But it’s romance (novels) that sell out every week,” she noticed.
The behind the scenes of getting the store together was a team effort that also included Vollbrecht’s brother, Taylor Brown.
The inventory consisted of books of various genres, both fiction and non-fiction. “We did plenty of pre-planning,” Vollbrecht said.
It all came together in three days.
“It’s absolutely adorable inside. You can tell a lot of love went into every detail,” customer Kim Lewis said.
Vollbrecht added, “We opened Ripon Bookstore because we know stories bring people together. Our goal is to create a space where everyone is welcome.
“Whether you’re discovering your next great read, attending a story time, or just stopping by to say hello – we’re excited to get to know our and to be part of the Ripon community.”
For more information, log on to www.riponbookstore.com or call follow @RiponBookstore on Instagram and Facebook.
