Book Trader/Tan America moving west

After 15 years at its current location on North Second Avenue East, Book Trader/Tan America is moving. The book and tanning business isn’t moving far, though, with its new home located two blocks down the street on Second Avenue West.

“It had sat empty for about two years and I didn’t realize it was that big,” owner Cheryl Hansen said. “I drove by it all of the time but I didn’t realize the size of it. Once I looked at it, I thought ‘Oh my goodness, it has sat open for two years, just sitting there.’”

Instead of continuing to lease her space as she has done for 17 years, Hansen took the jump and purchased the building her business will be located in.

“It will go good. It’ll be nice to own,” Hansen said.

Hansen purchased the business from the previous owner in 1999, when Book Trader was located on the square. With about half the space of the current store, there were only two tanning beds and far fewer books.

In 2002, Hansen moved the store to its current location and expanded her book inventory as well as adding four more tanning beds.

Hansen has been hard at work at the new location, remodeling the space to fit the business’s needs.

“We had to totally strip it out and redo it from carpet to ceiling. That is what we are still working on,” Hansen said. “We also have to rebuild the tanning rooms.”

Books will begin the trek down the street through June, moving a section at a time, and the tanning beds will be moved over the Fourth of July weekend.

Hansen plans to open the new location on July 6. She also hopes to hold a grand re-opening celebration in the following weeks.

One feature the new location is lacking is a picture window, a well-known attraction at her current site. Hansen hopes to bring that feature to the new location.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to get the front open and get the picture window in. Get it opened back up,” Hansen said.

Hansen is excited for the move and for activity that is happening in the entirely of the downtown.

“It looks like there is a lot going on. Relics is moving, there is a lot of change going on around town which is good to get stuff filled up,” Hansen said. “It is nice to see new stuff around.”

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at
641-792-3121 ext. 6534
or jpierson@newtondailynews.com