Jack’s Books will hold a grand opening in downtown Florence | Pee Dee News

FLORENCE — After months of planning, the wait for Florence’s only local bookstore is almost over.

Jack’s Books, the city’s only independent bookstore, will welcome customers at its grand opening on October 26th. In the heart of the center of Florence, it will be full of new and used books.

“The biggest thing I’m excited about is that the general public will finally be able to come and experience it,” said owner Colton Cauthen.

Koten announced the opening of the bookstore in April 2023. Thousands of people have followed the bookstore’s Facebook page to follow updates, play weekly quizzes and look for some of Koten’s clever clues about the store’s details.

Some of these details leaked onto the storefront. Facebook page following its private soft opening. A colorful mural, fully stocked bookshelves and bright green paint made their way into the background of several photos the store shared after selling 140 books that night.

For downtown development manager Hannah Davis, the bookstore opening and fanfare marked a moment of transformation for downtown Florence.

“I think when downtowns can attract an independent local bookstore and those bookstores can become popular among the local reading communities, then you’ve really had success,” Davis said.

Coten decided to open Jack’s Books when he noticed a gap in bookstores in Florence: big box stores were the only option.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, there were independent bookstores in Florence, Davis previously told The Post and Courier. The last few years of growth in Florence – new restaurants, shops and development — didn’t create a local bookstore.

Jack’s Books will answer the call for an independent bookstore. It will offer gift items as well as new and used books, with a total of 2,500 to 3,000 carefully selected titles. The store will fill another need downtown, Davis said.

“I saw the gap, but I realized that a lot of other people felt the gap too,” Cauthen said. “Now to see how big the gap is and to close that gap in a couple of days is really exciting.”

The grand opening on October 26th will feature a full list of events from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.:

• 10:30: A short grand opening ceremony followed by the official opening. The first 72 customers will receive a sweet surprise from Freeman’s Bakery.
• 12:45 to 13:15: Read-aloud story time for children (ages 3 and up).
• 2 to 3 p.m.: Local author Gina Heron will speak and sign books. A gift basket drawing for the winner of our local author guessing contest.
• 15:30–16:30: Speed ​​puzzle competition (if at least two teams of 3 people register by October 25th) with a prize for the winner.
• 4:30-5:15 p.m.: Store scavenger hunt with prize for winner (likely a pre-registered event).

Jack’s Books is located at 152 S. Dargan St. in downtown Florence, next to Leaf Lounge and Wholy Smokin’.

For now, the bookstore will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Hours may change as business gets up and running, Cauthen said.