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New independent bookstore coming to Five Points in Columbia

Christina Lee Knauss //February 2, 2023//

New independent bookstore coming to Five Points in Columbia

Christina Lee Knauss //February 2, 2023//

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A new independent bookstore will be opening soon in Columbia’s Five Points district.

All Good Books, the result of a partnership between local residents and friends Ben Adams and Clint Wallace, will be opening at 734 Harden St. in Five Points.

Adams, who previously ran Odd Bird Books on Main Street, said the new store is the result of the two friends’ mutual love of books.

“We had been talking for a few years about the possibility of working together if all the right pieces came together,” Adams told SC Biz News. “He had a bookstore and café concept in mind and we both had always been enthusiastic about Five Points. We figured it was the best shopping district for something like a bookstore that could attract all ages.”

Adams said Wallace learned about the building on Harden Street last summer. The building is the former site of the Thirsty Parrot, a now-defunct bar.

Creating the space for All Good Books has involved the complete historic restoration of the structure known as the Hair Building, which was originally constructed in 1923. The space is being transformed into a 3,000-square-foot bookstore space. Stucco was removed from the façade of the building to restore its historic brick appearance.

Dewey Ervin Architectural is the architect for the project and McCrory Construction is the general contractor.

“We’ve had to do a lot of work and renovations on the building since last summer and it’s been coming along really well,” Adams said. “We think it’s in really great shape now.”

Adams and Wallace have been working with store manager Ruth Smyrl to develop the concept for the bookstore and decide what the store will stock.

“We’re trying to be as wide-ranging as possible because we have space for up to between 10,000 and 15,000 books," Adams said. “We want to highlight local and regional stuff and also offer the selections that other bookstores do. We don’t have an independent bookstore in this part of town, and we really want to try to fully serve customers with a wide-ranging selection.”

All Good Books will also offer a café with coffee and tea.

The owners hope to have the bookstore open by early March.

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