The Book Escape: Don't forget to say hello to Theodore
For those of you (like Dave) who gave me a puzzled look when I mentioned my upcoming profile of The Book Escape, your confusion may lie in the fact that it was originally named The Book Rendezvous.
And if you've still never seen the place, it's time for you to explore Federal Hill. I'm always pleasantly surprised by the dearth of pleasant stores that are harder to admire at night when the place is crawling with bar-hoppers.
Co-owner Andrew Stonebarger is actually celebrating the store's five-year anniversary this month. While it sells primarily used books, they also offer prominent displays of the latest best-sellers and regional books. In short, you'll probably find whatever it is you're looking for at The Book Escape.
A little background
"The store was a used bookstore under different ownership and different name, 'The Book Rendezvous,' when the owner of that store decided to close the place," Stonebarger explains. "I was the owner of the adjacent business, Tradestone Gallery, and didn't want to lose having a bookstore right next door, so we hammered out a partnership and turned the old Book Rendezvous into 'The Book Escape.'
Clientele
Stonebarger says that one of the secrets to the store's success is their presence on the Internet. "To be honest, as with many businesses these days, we probably would not have been able to survive without the benefit of Internet sales."
But he says their main goal is to make The Book Escape "a friendly neighborhood bookstore."
Popular sections
Stonebarger names the fiction section as the store's most popular, where customers can find modern fiction and classic literature. "We also have a nice science fiction section, too," he says.
In fact, the store has expanded recently, with subjects including art, music, philosophy and poetry moved to the back of Tradestone Gallery.
"Customers simply pass through a courtyard area (complete with flowers and a box turtle named Theodore) to get there," Stonebarger says.
Events
The Book Escape has scheduled its first author reading and book signing on Saturday, Sept. 13. Mary Gottschalk will sign her new memoir, Sailing Down the Moonbeam. The book is based on her and her husband's experiences on a five-year sailing adventure.
"We hope to have much more of this type of thing in the future," Stonebarger says. "This month we are also featuring the photographs of Steve Cole in a small presentation near the front of the store."
While she always preferred The Hardy Boys to Nancy Drew, 
