“ I just knew it was the right one. Other opportunities were presented to us, but either the rent was too high, or the lease wasn’ t equitable or we just didn’ t want to put a bookstore in a building that didn’ t feel already lived in. I’ m really proud to be in this space. It’ s already been loved by the community for well over 100 years. Who doesn’ t want to be in a bookstore that’ s in a super old building?” said Elizabeth.
Because it is a historical, sandstone building, Elizabeth said there were some things they were not able to do when remodeling, but they made the space their own by cleaning, painting, putting up wallpaper and decorating. The front room even features handmade, Missouri white oak bookshelves crafted by Elizabeth’ s brother-in-law.
“ We wanted something warm and welcoming, something that immediately makes people feel like they can come home to a good book,” said Elizabeth.
In designing the space, Elizabeth wanted the bookstore to be a comfortable third space that wasn’ t home or work for people in the community to gather.
“ A third space is somewhere you can consistently rely on to come and be welcome in. It’ s a place that you actively take part in,” said Elizabeth.“ It’ s a place of belonging.”
That feeling of belonging was important to Elizabeth because it is often what readers find within the pages of a book. While at a conference in New York City in June of 2025, somebody shared with Elizabeth the idea that bookstores are vessels of empathy.
“ By reading this book that has a character that’ s different from you in any way at all, you are getting to learn more about that person, their background, their perspective and their lived experiences. You are able to expand your capacity for belief because you’ ve learned something new about somebody who is different from you in one way or another and hopefully gained in that new perspective a new appreciation for somebody different than you,” said Elizabeth.
Henry’ s Books features an ever changing variety of new and used books as well as items like journals, bookmarks, stickers, puzzles and mugs.
12 Down Country Roads March / April 2026