Meet Shawn and Maile Smucker, new owners of Nooks

The adventure began when Shawn Smucker texted his wife Maile, “Do you want to buy a bookstore?” To his surprise, she was all in. 

From reading with their children while they were homeschooling to being writers themselves, stories have defined so much of the Smuckers’ lives. 

“It was magical to watch my kids fall in love with stories. As a homeschooling mom, we read a lot together,” Maile recalls. “It was just amazing to see what stories can open up in a person, and to be able to see that happening in front of me was really a gift.” 

Now, the Smuckers share this love of story with the Lancaster community at Nooks, their whimsical bookshop on Gallery Row. Cozy beanbags and padded benches make the perfect place for little readers to flip through picture books with their parents. For adult readers, Maile and Shawn love offering recommendations to anyone looking to escape into a new book. 

“It’s a place where you can take a deep breath and just relax,” Shawn said. “We just want it to be a space where people feel like they can step to the side of their normal busy lives,” he added. 

Nooks is designed to be a place where community flourishes, with local author events, story time for kids, and a welcoming environment built around a shared love for books. 

“We get to stand behind the counter and hear conversations that happen between customers that don’t even know each other, and then suddenly there’s a connection, and they’re exchanging phone numbers,” Maile said. “We want it to be a place that cultivates community while also celebrating stories.” 

Visit Nooks at 112 North Prince Street or shop online at nooks.gallery. 

This feature is partially sponsored by Business Information Group (BIG) who believes in supporting the growth of small businesses in Lancaster City. 

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