Thornwell Books turns page on 5 years of service

As Thornwell Books hits five years of business in downtown Morganton, owner Jean VanNoppen said the milestone is a testament to bringing people together over interesting reads, a cup of coffee, and unique community events.

The milestone marks the latest chapter in an idea VanNoppen carried for years. As an avid reader, she spent much of her time as a teenager visiting The Muses Bookstore in Morganton, which closed after decades of business, leaving a hole in the community.

In 2021, she found herself being the one to fill that hole after purchasing and renovating 202 S. Sterling St., which was once home to the oldest Ford dealership in Western North Carolina and carries a unique history of bootleggers driving souped-up cars into the top level.

“It was a beautiful architectural space,” VanNoppen said, though the renovation took two and a half years to complete because it was in bad shape.

Her idea to bring a bookstore back to Morganton followed years of giving to others, whether she was raising her children or caring for her aging parents. Owning Thornwell Books for the past five years has given VanNoppen another chance to give, but this time, it’s to the community that raised her.

“I was born and raised here. My husband has lived here most of his life,” she said. “We raised our children here and we love Morganton, so we wanted to have something for the community.”

VanNoppen spends much of her time curating the thousands of books that line the shelves at Thornwell, from science fiction to history. She reads a lot of Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Review, and other magazines to help guide her selections, but recommendations from the community count for a lot, she said.

“Truthfully, there are so many books that come out in a given week, thousands of books come out, and you can’t know all the books and all the authors no matter how well read you are,” VanNoppen said.

She has recently expanded her selections after becoming a grandmother, now offering children’s books, something she originally steered away from when Adventure Bound Books was open downtown.

Initially, VanNoppen said she wasn’t sure how people would respond to a large bookstore in their community. However, she said she’s been pleasantly surprised by not just the number of people who want to read in Burke County, but also, “happily surprised at the literacy in our community now.”

It’s not just how often people are reading that has come as a surprise, but the types of books that catch their interest. For example, she said books on mushrooms and how to forage them have become increasingly popular. People are also often drawn to poetry books, a seed she believes Angela Shores planted at Adventure Bound Books.

For VanNoppen, her favorite part of being a bookstore owner might be the connections she’s been able to make in a community that means so much to her.

“I’ve lived here the vast majority of my life, and I meet people every day that I never knew,” she said. “There are so many interesting people in this community that I never knew, and I am just overwhelmed by that.”

Thornwell has become known for hosting unique events, providing a gathering place for the community, something she said is a natural extension to being a community resource. The store has offered events for everyone, from live music to tarot card reading lessons.

Those events wouldn’t be possible without her team of employees, VanNoppen said. Many are part-time employees who don’t just arrange books or place orders but also serve as baristas for Thornwell’s loyal coffee customers.

She added that about 40% of the store’s business comes from the cafe, which offers specialty coffees, teas, and baked goods from her brother’s bakery. Another 40% comes from book sales and the remaining 20% comes from the store’s gift items.

“We’ve had some great, just fabulous, people here and it’s been a lot of fun,” VanNoppen said.

To celebrate Thornwell’s fifth birthday, the community is invited to join festivities on Saturday, July 11, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Guests will be able to choose from an exclusive line of anniversary merchandise, including hats, stickers, tote bags, and tumblers. Baristas will also be serving a specially crafted latte that’s only available for the occasion.

For those searching for their next read, the store will be offering discounts up to 40% for a variety of genres and titles. Everyone who makes a purchase will get the chance to spin the prize wheel to win Advance Reader Copies, store discounts, and anniversary merchandise.

For every $5 spent, guests will receive raffle tickets for a chance to win a uniquely decorated commemorative bust, designed for the event. The raffle drawing will begin at 5 p.m., followed by cake and a champagne toast to the store’s milestone.

“We have changed and grown over the years; beloved baristas have come and gone as well as our ‘regulars’ and their pets. We have crammed in more bookshelves, rearranged furniture and replaced rugs and cafe equipment and offered countless programs ...” VanNoppen said. “Thanks to your support, we are still here and looking forward to many more years as your community bookstore, coffee bar, and meeting place.”