HOULTON, Maine — Book lovers rejoice!
Thanks to a boost from the Houlton Entrepreneur Challenge, space for an extra 30,000 books will bloom inside Volumes Bookstore in the next few months.
Volumes’ owner Gerry Berthlette, who won the business competition, said Friday that winning has allowed him to complete work on a cavernous fourth room at his Bangor Street shop.
“We’re turning this room from repair garage to bookstore,” explained a smiling Berthlette. “I’m adding high-efficiency lighting. There’ll be reading area over there with couches and plenty of seating. And a designated area for book signings and speakers.”
Lanky new bookshelves lining the walls will house 10,000 to 12,000 titles; floor displays will handle the rest. And the grand total in the rest of his shop? Would you guess Volumes boasts 160,000 volumes?
This expansion makes finding the perfect read easier than ever.
“I’ve got some sections that need more organization and this extra room will give me the space to do that,” Berthlette said.
Plans are to have the new addition open for business by the end of June.
“It’s kind of interesting. I moved over here from Water Street 10 years ago this summer,” he said. “And this new addition will open pretty close to my 10th anniversary here.”
The really tough thing about getting the new room ready?
“The hardest part is just going to be getting all the books in there,” he quipped.
On hand for the official check presentation last week, Nancy Ketch, Houlton’s community development director, said she was excited to present the winnings to Berthlette since Volumes was such a long-standing local business.
“Volumes is a unique business in this day and age,” she said. “It’s one-of-a-kind. And it really draws people from out of the area. To be able to see the business be sustainable is wonderful … and we loved his plans for keeping the business here long-term.”
Volumes, the biggest bookstore north of Bangor, rose of the top of the Houlton Entrepreneur Challenge this winter. The competition, hosted by the Town of Houlton and the Southern Aroostook Development Corp. with major financial support from Machias Savings Bank, asked participants with new or existing businesses to submit their ideas for a chance to receive a prize package.
As the winner, Berthlette received just over $10,000 in prizes including a forgivable loan, legal/consulting services, Web design and hosting, radio advertising, accounting services, as well as, membership to the Houlton Chamber of Commerce and Houlton Rotary Club. (Visit www.sadcaroostook.org for a complete list of sponsors.)
A new Entrepreneur Challenge is scheduled to kick off with an informational night May 17. This second round includes an expanded prize package of up to $40,000, which includes a $30,000 forgivable loan. For more information, visit SADC’s site, www.houlton-maine.com or call Ketch at 521-5938 or Jon McLaughlin at 521-0157.
Volumes Bookstore, located at 75 Bangor Street, is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 532-7727.
