The Reading Room CLE – Bookstore Opens Up Shop in Kamm’s Corners

If you have been in downtown Kamm’s Corners recently, you may have noticed the addition of a unique new business along Lorain Avenue. This summer the nonprofit, The Reading Room CLE, put down roots at 17021 Lorain Avenue.

The Reading Room CLE was founded in 2018 and is a bookstore offering patrons new and used books for sale, but their mission goes even further than that. They strive to make literature easily available to everyone and eliminate barriers to accessing new ideas and perspectives. The Reading Room CLE is operated largely by volunteers that make up their staff and Board of Directors so all proceeds from book sales are directed to funding the various literacy programs they manage. These range from initiatives like donating free books to inmates to producing Story Club Cleveland – a monthly open mic night hosted at Forest City Brewery.

The store itself is as cozy a bookstore as you could hope to find with wall-to-wall shelves filled with novels, plants in every corner, and ample seating options so you can find a spot to sit and stay awhile (which they hope you will). In the front of the store under the windows is a section laid out just for kids with a big sofa and a slew of children’s books for them to go on an adventure with. Beyond that, the store is organized neatly into various genres so readers can easily find their preferred niche.

The Reading Room CLE also gives visitors unique opportunities for finding their next favorite book. Immediately when you walk in is a bookshelf of staff picks centered around one theme. As you explore further, you’ll find books wrapped in brown paper and bows spread throughout the shelves with brief synopses of what is inside. These mystery picks give you the chance to take home an unknown book and engage with a title you might not have otherwise picked for yourself.

Aside from being a bookstore, the team at The Reading Room CLE hope the space will serve as a hub for community gatherings. They aim to create a place where everyone is welcome and can gather to share ideas, meet new people, and expand their knowledge of the world around them.

The Reading Room CLE is located at 17021 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44111. There is metered parking in front of the store along Lorain Avenue and ample, free parking in the municipal lot in the rear. The Reading Room CLE is ADA accessible with a level entrance and reserved handicap parking spot outside the back entrance. Shop hours are Wednesday – Friday 12PM-7PM, Saturday 10AM-7PM, and Sunday 12PM-5PM. You can learn more by visiting https://readingroomcle.org