TRAVELERS REST — One of Greenville County’s few remaining locally owned bookstores will soon relocate from a growing Main Street.
As The Page Turns, which has operated for 17 years in various locations around Travelers Rest, first moved downtown across from Topsoil Restaurant in 2020.
If the store renewed its lease at 32 S. Main St. when the year ends, the rent increase on the table would’ve doubled the current rate.
Given the slim profit margins independent bookstores operate under, that would’ve brought expenses to an unsustainable level, said Amy Williams, the store’s owner. Any amount of rent increase wouldn’t have been viable for them, she said.
“Our landlord has been exceptionally, really fantastic with us,” Williams said. “No hard feelings there at all for any reason. They've been really great for us, and we understand their position on needing to increase the rent.”
The property owners, through their real estate broker, declined to comment.
As The Page Turns’ new location at 3 Plaza Drive off Highway 25 will open on Oct. 1. It’s about a four-minute drive from the current store.
Williams turned to social media in mid-August, asking the community to chip in to help the business cover its expenses during the move. She said the store can’t afford to cover rent at the new location while paying out the remaining three months at the current place.
When the news broke, community members rallied behind the store. A GoFundMe page set up by Williams gathered more than $3,400 in less than two weeks.
Patrons and authors who frequent As The Page Turns said they appreciated the business for its community feel and regular events with local artists and authors. Some shared concerns about the growing popularity of Travelers Rest making it harder to do business in town.
Dianne Scherer said she appreciates the store because Williams herself is widely read — they both share a love for Scandinavian noir. An independent bookstore makes a town feel more intimate and community-oriented, she said.
“I'm going to follow her to the new store without a problem,” Scherer said.
Rowe Carenen, an author and patron of the store, said she feels like the move is a reflection of growth pressures on longtime Travelers Rest residents. Rents at a sprawling, new community near downtown start around $1,400 for one-bedroom apartments.
Despite her broader concerns, Carenen said she saw some opportunities for the business in its new location, even if they won’t have the same access to foot traffic that was more common on Main Street.
“I think it's going to be very cozy,” Carenen said. “I think it's going to give them … the opportunity … to be a more curated selection, because it's much smaller, and that has some definite pros.”
At its new location, As The Page Turns will still host local events and hold monthly markets. The new space is smaller, so they will likely find some off-site storage. Williams maintained that the location is the only thing that will change.
“We have absolutely loved our time on Main Street. We've loved that building,” Williams said, later adding, “At the end of the day, the bookstore belongs to the community.”