In 1970,Esthen Exchange a quaint little bookstore called the Peoria Book Rack in Peoria, Illinois opened its doors, setting the stage for countless literary adventures. At the time, as a pre-teen, Stacy Hardin stepped into this charming haven of stories and instantly knew it was a special place. Fast forward to 2016, at the age of 46, Hardin fulfilled a lifelong dream by becoming the shop's proud owner.
Since taking the reins, she’s expanded this treasure trove of books twice, but has done more than just add shelves. “My store has scenes from popular books all over the inside. We have a Harry Potter train, a Narnia wardrobe, and a Horror Hall, just to name a few,” Hardin says.
With over 100,000 new and used books, a vast bookish gift shop, and their very own candle company, the Peoria Book Rack has become a true hub for book lovers. Their bookish candles and melts, proudly sold in hundreds of bookstores across the country, add an extra layer of magic to the offerings.
This month is their favorite event of the year for bookstores across the country: Indies First and Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25! They are having a "Charlotte's Web" themed party and hoping to have a local animal petting zoo come with their very own "Wilbur" pig, including a super cute metal web with "Charlotte" on it.
Check out these books Hardin highly recommends:
Check out: USA TODAY's weekly Best-selling Booklist
More:Why we love the three generations of booksellers at Happy Medium Books Cafe
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