Toms-Price, an established, family-owned furniture store, and Prairie Path Books, a new independent bookseller in Wheaton, are collaborating to offer book lovers a home-like setting in which they can buy great reads.
Beginning Feb. 20, Toms-Price will section off a portion of its Wheaton store for Prairie Path Books to host its literary events and sell books.
“We’re bringing curious people together to talk about books, all surrounded by fine craftsman furniture that is the tradition of Toms-Price,” said Prairie Path Books owner Sandy Koropp. “We’re so pleased that Toms-Price is offering the space for our conversations and book selling to expand.”
Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“We’re excited to support a bookstore in the community,” said Scott Price, president of Toms-Price. “With over 70,000 square feet in our Wheaton building, we have a little room to share, especially for a unique opportunity such as this.”
Toms-Price is furnishing the space with big leather chairs and comfortable sofas, and a kitchen will allow for book discussions around cooking demonstrations.
Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“These events will be more elaborate than most offered by traditional bookstores,” Koropp said.
Prairie Path Books has already established itself as a purveyor of literary events – fiction, nonfiction, teens, couples’ and parents’ nights-out. For the Feb. 20 event at 7 p.m. at Toms-Price, 303 E. Front St., Wheaton, parents are invited to discuss “Masterminds & Wingmen” by Rosalind Wiseman. The book outlines the challenges of raising pre-teen and teen boys, and Koropp expects a rousing discussion among parent-readers.
Other events include “WhoDunnit,” a mystery book night for couples on Feb. 28, and “Keepers,” a cooking interactive night on March 13, based on the cookbook by Kathy Brennan and Caroline Campion.
“We appreciate the kind of business the founders of Prairie Path Books are trying to create and the value it will bring to the community. It is our privilege to help them on their journey of building a sustainable, local bookstore,” Price said.
“A bookstore within a furniture store is a natural fit,” Koropp said. “Prairie Path Books has consistent values with Toms-Price—a focus on superior customer service and offering a quality product in which we whole-heartedly believe.
“I want people to come into Toms-Price, find their way to our space, and spend a while relaxing with our staff and recommended book titles,” she said.
***
Established in 1908 downtown Chicago, Toms-Price is a fourth-generation, family-owned business that offers the finest furniture available to area customers. Today, stores are located in Wheaton, Lincolnshire, Skokie, South Barrington as well as an outlet located in Bloomingdale. For more information about Toms-Price, contact Kim McQuiston, Advertising Director at (630) 668-7878 ext. 1123 or visit www.tomsprice.com.
Prairie Path Books has been hosting “gatherings and great reads” officially since 2013, but the owners have been providing book-based discussions for the last decade. They love books and sell what they love. In space provided by Toms-Price Furniture, the independent bookseller holds performances, author signings and other unique events to connect readers and friends. For more information about Prairie Path Books, contact Sandy Koropp at (630) 235-4325 or visit www.prairiepathbooks.com.
