Galaxy Bookstore Reopening in Refurbished Store
The Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick received substantial water damage on July 20, when an accidental fire from a lit candle in an apartment over the book store set off the sprinkler system which immediately put out the fire. Water damaged three apartments, a hallway, the Galaxy Bookshop and The Scale House Restaurant located in the Lamoille Housing Partnership Apartments (also known as the Bemis Block) located on Main Street. Assessments and clean up efforts continue.
HARDWICK – The Galaxy Bookstore will celebrate its opening at its refurbished space on Saturday, Jan. 7, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The shop suffered severe water damage from an upstairs fire last summer. Since then, the Galaxy Bookstore operated from the homes of co-owners Andrea Jones and Sandy Scott, moved to a shared work space above Front Seat Coffee, and then set up shop at a desk in the brand-new Flower Basket on Hardwick’s South Main Street at the site of the former Buffalo Mountain Co-op.
This opening day will feature Vermont writers, local food, and door prizes. Children’s writer Natalie Kinsey-Warnock and novelist Jeffrey Lent will attend from 10 a.m. to noon. Additional guests include Geoff Hewitt, Jody Gladding, Sean Prentiss, Brett Stanciu, and Christine McDowell.
Water from the sprinkler system continued to pour down on the Galaxy Bookshop even after the system was shut off by firefighters and massively damaged the store and its inventory. The 9:30 a.m. alarm on July 20 brought firefighters from Hardwick, Greensboro and Walden to the Lamoille Housing Partnership apartments (also known as the Bemis Block). The Galaxy Bookshop will be closed until further notice and it is not known when they will be able to reopen. Updates about the business will be posted on their website galaxybookshop.com.
Local foods include donations from The Genny, The Magic Spoon, Buffalo Mountain Market, Cabot Cheese and Front Seat Coffee. Updated details are on the Galaxy’s website at galaxybookshop.indielite.org/.
