A new children’s bookstore is scheduled to open this summer at 506 Main St. in Evanston with a special feature designed to draw kids in.
Owner Chelsea Elward told the city’s Economic Development Committee Wednesday night that she plans to have two front doors — one sized for grownups, the other just for kids — at the store, called Booked.
Wild Rumpus, the kids bookstore in Minneapolis with the kid-sized door. (Google Maps)
Elward, a former teacher, says she got the idea for the kid-size door, which would be inset into the adult-size doorway, from Wild Rumpus, a children’s bookstore in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
506 Main St.
Here in Evanston, Elward’s store will replace The Tint Shoppe, a shoe repair store.
Alderman Melissa Wynne, 3rd Ward, said, she loved the shoe repair guy, “but it was one of the messiest businesses I’ve ever been in.”
“I support this completely,” Wynne said, “I think it will fill a niche that’s badly needed in all of Evanston but especially in that area.”
The Economic Development Committee recommended City Council approval of a facade improvement grant for $4,748 to cover half the cost of the door and a blade sign for the business.
The committee also recommended approval of up to $10,000 for new signage and facade improvements for the new Prairie Moon restaurant at 1635 Chicago Ave.
But it postponed action on a request for financial assistance for a new awning for the ORT Resale shop at 915 Chicago Ave. pending receipt of more detail about the plans.
The committee also recommended approval for two $2,500 Entrepreneurial Support grants for Kandi Corbbins’ Ikandi Hair Studio at 1705 Central St. and for Tiffini Holmes’ Total Transformation Coaching, a peronal and wellness coaching business.