By KAYLA ROYSTER
Staff Writer
Tierra Farm Store, Madison Theatre, and Tierra Coffee Roasters are all connected and owned by Tierra Farm. Updates have been made slowly to all the establishments and the newest additions happens to be within the Tierra Farm Store. The Tierra Farm Store starting in May is adding a used book station in which a customer can drink some coffee and enjoy a book, or grab an ice cream to go and buy a used book for a decent price. All books are gently used and have been donated to the store.
Upper Madison is where all the businesses are for the neighborhood of Pine Hills. “It’s got nice restaurants, bars, a grocery store, library, pharmacy, bank, coffee shop, theater, hair salon, and a few shops. In my opinion, all that’s missing is a bookstore,” said James Manning, director of the Tierra Farm Store, Madison Theatre, and Tierra Coffee Roasters. Along with the incorporation of tall bookshelves, comfy couches are being added within the store.
The shelves will be covered with specifically donated books, allowing a treasure hunt for each good read. “We are getting our books from thrift stores, donations, and private sellers,” said Manning. “You can donate books in exchange for a gift card. A box of hardcover books in good condition will score you a $10 gift card; donate more and you can earn more.”
Zach Chromik, a worker at the Tierra Farm store, was happy to discuss why the interest in including a bookstore to the store was so appealing. “We’re trying to start a slow-brew coffee bar,” Chromik said, pointing out the slow brews able to be created via the Chemex and the French Press. “ It’s a time to sit down during the slow process, relax, and read a book.”
Behind both the counter and Zach Chromik, multiple stacks of books were visible. “We accept just about everything: dictionaries, Christian books, classics, and you can purchase these books for a used price,” Chromik said.
John Levendosky, a Pine Hills resident and loyal customer of the Tierra Farm Store, said he was “most definitely” excited for the addition of the bookstore. “You can’t get this [coffee] anywhere else and my daughter loves the ice cream,” Levendosky said. “ I think it’s a great idea.”
In addition to the books and the hand-brewed coffee, this store hopes the addition of the bookstore will offer an alternative to the coffee shop for a quite place to study. It doesn’t matter if you want to sit and read, or grab a coffee and go, be sure to check out the newest addition to the Pine Hill’s neighborhood Tierra Farm Store.
“I believe the bookstore will attract families and college students alike. Anybody who still values the tactile pages of a good book,” said Manning.
