Ohio

Gramercy Books – Bexley, Ohio

Gramercy Books, located in the charming Bexley neighborhood near Columbus, Ohio, has established a loyal following in a relatively short existence, thanks in part to a prime location, an impressive selection of titles, and owners who know a thing or two about the business of books.

Opened in December 2016, the shop is co-owned by novelist and journalist Linda Kass, author of Tasa’s Song, and John Gaylord, who has five decades in the bookselling industry, beginning with his family-owned venture the Little Professor Book Centers. Together, the pair set out to establish Gramercy as a “locally owned, independently minded neighborhood bookstore.” According to its website, the shop’s philosophy is inspiration and discovery, community and adventure. 

The shop’s name comes from the French words “grand merci,” meaning “big thanks.” And that customer-centered mentality is translating well into the inviting, nicely stocked, and beautifully decorated space. Specializing in all-new inventory, Gramercy, while not a huge store, makes the most out of its retail floor.

“We have a small collection, but we spot books out frequently and try to get as much variety as we can,” says store clerk Amanda, who has worked at Gramercy since it opened. “We have a really good community here. It’s kind of a small town outside a big city, which works really well for us, because it brings in people from all over.”

And its prime location, alongside coffee shop Kittie’s Café, an offshoot of the popular Kittie’s Bakery nearby, doesn’t hurt either. The two shops are connected through an interior doorway, allowing shoppers to sip coffee while they browse and enjoy their book purchases over a freshly baked treat.

Among the shop’s most popular features is its large and well-curated children’s section.

“Our children’s section is sort of our crown jewel,” says Amanda. “Our store manager specializes in children’s books and spends a lot of time to make sure it’s great.”

But that isn’t the only section that gets extra love and detail. Every area in Gramercy seems to be well thought out and expertly curated, from the décor to the book titles to the literary-themed gifts – not to mention the active calendar of events.

“We do probably five to ten book signings a month,” says Amanda, adding that there is also a monthly book club and special events like poetry readings, songwriter performances, and even cooking demos. “We mix it up as much as we can.” 

Built on a driving theme of gratitude toward books and toward its customers, shoppers will find plenty of evidence of that waiting inside Gramercy Books.

Gramercy Books is located at 2424 East Main Street, Bexley, Ohio. The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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