Visible Voice Books is returning to the Tremont neighborhood after closing several years ago.
The original store on Kenilworth Avenue was open for seven years.
“I just needed a break,” said owner David Ferrante.
The new location, a former funeral home at 2258 Professor Avenue, has more space, parking and Crust Pizza Kitchen on the first floor.
“That’s gonna bring a lot of traffic in here that wasn’t here before,” Ferrante said.
Ferrante has expanded collections to mirror the neighborhood full of popular restaurants.
“With Tremont being such a huge food destination, we wanted to make sure we reflected that.”
Ferrante thinks independent bookstores, like Visible Voice Books, are making a comeback.
“I truly feel that people want the individual experience. They don’t want to walk into a glorified warehouse.”
According to the American Booksellers Association, a non-profit trade association that promotes independent bookstores, membership has grown for the seventh year in a row. There are more than 2,300 member locations across the country. That is up from 1,651 in 2009.
Ferrante is counting on new faces and old friends to help his store thrive.
“My core customer group that were wanting us to come back, they gotta support this place.”
Visible Voice Books officially opens Wednesday, Sept. 27. More information here.
