2 days ago
New Sydney, N.S., bookstore plans to stay on the same page
A few months ago, Mads Grace came home from work and her fiancée Katharine Hubbert asked a question that would change their lives.
'My fiancée said, 'What if we try to buy the bookstore?'' Grace said. 'I'd been thinking the same thing.'
Grace had been working at On Paper Books in Sydney, N.S., for a year when her boss told her she was planning on closing the shop to pursue a Bachelor of Education. The independent bookstore had been open since December 2020, building up a solid following among bibliophiles in the region.
'She was hoping she could find someone keep to the indie bookstore scene alive,' Grace said. 'I didn't jump on it right away.'
After talking about it with her fiancée, Grace decided to reach out to the owner about the logistics of taking over the store.
'We had a lot of meetings and phone calls with every person you can imagine,' Grace said. 'We kept it a secret for about two months as we were behind the scenes figuring things out.'
Grace said she got back into the habit of reading by working at the shop. She wants her store, which has been renamed On the Same Page, to offer something for every kind of reader.
'Whether you're an avid reader or more casual and want to take your book to the beach,' she said. 'Our used book section is still strong. There are a lot of the same things, but we've added a lot more children's books, teen and young adult reads.
'There are more laid back, lighthearted novels as well. We've added a stationary section.'
On the Same Page
On the Same Page is having its grand opening this weekend. (Source: Mads Grace)
Grace said they have been in contact with local artists to feature their work at the store.
'Ninety-nine per cent of our things are made in Canada and half are made in Nova Scotia,' she said.
On the Same Page will have its grand opening at 311 Charlotte St. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Grace said they plan to be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday this summer.
Bookstore owners
Mads Grace, left, and her fiancée Katharine Hubbert are pictured. (Source: Mads Grace)
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