Base set for book lovers’ space

MORE than one-year since its establishment, a business venture aimed at rehoming pre-loved and second-hand paperbacks is receiving a home of its own.

Nestled among the brick buildings of Bridge Street within the former Crazy Asian restaurant space, the duo behind used book sellers Book Bounce are preparing their central hub after months of searching.

Co-owner Garrison McErvale and Josh Dunbar are spending the next few weeks preparing the shopfront with the aim of opening by the end of July.

Having previously made their sales through events like Clunes Booktown and renting spaces in Eureka Hall, Mr Dunbar said having their own location will be integral to their business.

“This is going to be a central hub for all of our operations,” he said.

“People can come here and drop off their books. We’ll have book sales in here, but it’s not going to be a typical retail space.

“We might open two to three days a week, let everyone know about it on our social media, and have it all from here like a pop-up but in the one location.”

The space is set to keep a rustic early 20th century aesthetic with antique furniture and bare slate tiles.

The ground floor will serve as the main retail space where the majority of books will cost $2 and $5 while rarer works will be more expensive.

With upstairs space to spare beyond storage, Mr McErvale said the second floor could be used for book clubs or private functions.

“We can offer something a bit more than just our shop like a reading room,” he said. “It’s eventuated from feedback and what people have told us they’d like to see.

“Especially with the book clubs, one of the issues is going around to someone’s house each month and maintaining it whereas here it’ll all be ready to go.”

With a stockpile of nearly 20,000 books kept at roughly half-a-dozen sheds, the owners’ next goal is to establish a central warehouse for storage and market use.