Back in November, Visible Voice Books opened up in a new spot on Lorain Road in Ohio City after 18 years at two Tremont locations. The new space is 6000 square feet compared to 1,100 at the former Tremont location on Professor Avenue. It offers triple the inventory of books, a full café featuring coffee drinks and other beverages as well as snacks, salads and sandwiches, a full bar, a mezzanine for reading, studying or just hanging out, and three conference rooms for 6-20 people.
The new store was once the Lorain Theater, and evidence of that is clear in the very back of the space where glistening new pews seating 150 face an antique proscenium arch framing a small stage, suitable for an array of intimate performances and events such as the author talks and poetry readings featured at the former Visible Voice books. But with so much more space, owner Dave Ferrante says they plan to be much more ambitious.
“One of the greatest surprises while demoing our building was the discovery of a stage that was over 100 years old,” he says. “There isn’t much of a better way to start hosting events/performances than the first few events we have scheduled in January. Starting on January 2nd where we will be hosting Tibetan Monks, to January 16th with a Django Reinhardt Jazz tribute show, and finally on January 24th a poetry reading made up of a group of poets who held our first poetry reading ever at the original store location on Kenilworth Avenue in 2007.”
He’s also made another exciting announcement. Already Visible Voice is next doors neighbors with Guitar Riot who moved into a newly restored space next door. Now that block will become a veritable hub for the area’s creative community.
“We have been trying to incorporate a record store since the bookstore renovation started three years ago,” he says. “We are really happy to announce that Steven Peffer, owner of Hausfrau Records, has decided to move his record store business to our upstairs in February. It will be a separate business with a separate entrance, but you will be able to do all your books and record buying all in one building. A record store, specifically one as good as Steve’s, doubles down on our commitment to creative art and commerce. It also allows both of us a chance to introduce both our customer bases to even more diversified cool offerings.”
Currently Hausfrau Records in located on West 65th in Gordon Square, next door to the Capitol Theatre.