Downtown Columbia’s bustling Arcade Mall is getting an independent bookstore
When Benjamin Adams was looking for space to open an independent bookstore, he wanted to be in Columbia’s bustling downtown. But the aspiring writer couldn’t find anything he could afford.
Adams plied his passion for a couple of months at the weekly Soda City Market on Main Street, then he caught a fortunate break. A space opened up in the once-neglected 107-year-old, L-shaped Arcade Mall tucked away in the 1300 block of Main Street.
There, among Italian terra cotta columns and bas-relief cherubs (lots of them), Adams plans to open up an intimate and highly curated shop he has named Odd Bird Books.
“I definitely wanted to be downtown,” said the 35-year-old Dreher High School graduate. “It was in my heart, my dreams.”
That Adams had to wait for space in the Arcade is a story in itself. When developer Ron Swinson and Brad Shell purchased the venerable building four years ago, the mall had been neglected for decades. It was peopled mostly by artists in search of cheap gallery space.
But after a long and extensive restoration project, the old mall is hopping.
With the addition of Odd Bird, the entire first floor is now leased. And only one space on the second floor is vacant.
Like Odd Bird, the tenants are an eclectic group — a tattoo artist, salons, the artist Blue Sky. And the long-time locally owned Swanson’s Deli has been joined by the Pita Pit sandwich shop, Ally & Eloise Bakeshop and Stoner’s Pizza
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“We’ve had good luck with people seeking us out,” Shell said. “And like a lot of our tenants, (Odd Bird) is something rare for downtown.”
And one large bay is shared by Indah Coffee, clothiers Granger Owings and Circa Barbershop.
“Where else can you have a gourmet coffee, buy a Barbour jacket and get a haircut all in the same place,” said Matt Kennell, president and CEO of City Center Partnership, which encourages and guides investment in the Main Street District.
Odd Bird should blend in well with the eclectic environment, Kennell said.
Adams plans to put out benches and chairs in the corridor, which is already lined with tables and chairs from the neighboring restaurants.
“People can buy a book and sit and read,” he said.
The size of the space — 500 square feet as opposed to the standard store size of 2,000 to 4,000 square feet — is also right for the business, Adams said
“I thought (a downtown bricks and mortar store) was out of reach because of the price,” he said. “This is perfect for me.”
Adams will take over the space in bay 105 (formerly Pelliclaude Boutique) on Jan. 15, with Odd Bird scheduled to open Feb. 1.
“I just need shelves, books and a table and I’m ready to go,” he said.
But what’s up with the “odd” name?
“I picked it out of a phrase book,” Adams said. “I liked the ring of it.”
It’s a nod to “book lovers, introverts and outsiders,” he said. “Kind of like the owner.”
This story was originally published January 9, 2020 at 5:30 AM.