The Book Nook has been sold and has moved to 772 Route 50, Suite 5, Burnt Hills NY. For more information: The Burnt Hills Book Nook Facebook Page
Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks. -Dr. Seuss
There's something magical about books and bookstores. I'm not an avid reader, but I have a thing about books. I remember visiting the library as a child and feeling an enchantment surrounded by shelves of books. I still love bookstores and today I'm excited to be able to share the newest bookstore in the area....the Book Nook.
Sue Hart Rainka remembers her mom taking her to the library and reading to her as a child. Sue says she always wanted to be a librarian. Funny how life's ambitions play out, sometimes not exactly in the timing we imagine. Sue's worked for her family's home security business until January 2023 but after Sue's mom passed away Easter Saturday of 2022, she began to reimagine her dream of owning a bookstore. Together with her husband, Phil Patnode, they made that dream become a reality opening the doors of The Book Nook on March 1st, 2023.
Located at 146 Raylinsky Road, Suite 4A in Ballston Lake (in the new plaza behind the brand new Stewart's shop), the Book Nook is a small, independent, secondhand book store. Sue not only loves books, she loves being surrounded by books and loves meeting people. She says that those who come into the shop, booklovers, tend to be kindred spirits. The goal at the Book Nook was to create a cozy, welcoming environment where people can come in, browse and relax. That is exactly the environment they have created! Several couches provide comfortable seating throughout the store. Artwork, some handed down from Sue's mom, adorn the walls and a wall fountain (from Sue's parent's home) creates a relaxing water symphony in the shop's kitchenette where patrons can enjoy coffee, tea or hot chocolate. The store features a children's nook complete with a couch, toys and books of all interests for kids of all ages, arranged by subject and age. The entire store is impeccably organized and labeled by subject matter and the books are all in pristine condition, some looking more new than used. In addition to books, the store offers dvd's, puzzles, and even large print books.
Sue's husband, Phil, is retired. That doesn't mean he's sitting on the leather sofa, nose in a book. Nope, Phil drives a school bus and between runs he keeps busy arranging books, hanging pictures and being the brawn who helped make Sue's dream a reality. Aside from his smile and hospitality, Phil moved from one task to another, efficiently completing a number of tasks in the short time we were taking photos. It was evident what great teamwork was involved in bringing this dream to reality.
Something very magical can happen when you read a good book.
- JK Rowling
The Children's Nook.............
The shop accepts book donations and in some cases issues 'trade credit' for folks looking to use the credit for future purchases in the store. More information about that process can be found on their website:
https://www.thebooknook2023.com/. You can follow the Book Nook on Instagram at:
@booknook2023_ To visit the shop, just off Exit 11 of the Northway, the shop is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00am-6:00pm. Stay tuned for news and events about possible happenings at the shop - book clubs, children's story times, local author events and more. Check it out soon and tell all your book-loving friends. Tell Sue I sent you.
Of course anyone who truly loves books buys more of them than he or she can hope to read in one fleeting lifetime. A good book, resting unopened in its slot on a shelf, full of majestic potentiality, is the most comforting sort of intellectual wallpaper.
-David Quammen
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