FORT MADISON – The Baier name in Fort Madison has been culled in the automotive sales industry, but part of that legacy could be entrenched in a new venture that’s about as far from auto sales as you can get.
Dannette Baier has opened a boutique book store in downtown Fort Madison that harkens back to the days when every downtown had a new and used book store.
Pat Delaney’s Book Nook on Avenue G and the Book Mark, also on Avenue G, have given way to the digital world and big retail outlets. And in a world where you can download and read, or even listen to, a book almost on demand, it’s refreshing to see a space to go and leaf through both hardback and paperback books.
It’s becoming more of an occurrence in downtown than a lot in Fort Madison would presume to think. Right across the street from Baier’s store is Mike and Allison Park’s Pool 21 Records and Plants where people can spend an hour or so looking through used vinyl albums.
Just down the street toward the river is Swed & Co. Coffee with room to spread out and enjoy the book, grab a drink and a sandwich or pastry. There’s Boozie Rae’s where you can grab a cocktail and charcuterie board if you’re doing later evening shopping.
It’s all part of a blossoming downtown retail outlet that now includes new and used books at Bent Oak Books.
“It’s always been in the back of mind that someday when the kids got bigger it would be great to have a downtown business,” Baier said. “I love the buildings and the architecture and love the community of downtown businesses. I didn’t know when that would be or even if it would happen. It was more just like a fun dream.”
Baier said she knows she can’t compete with the larger retail book franchises but acknowledges that there aren’t many around so most people are shopping online for their books.
“I buy books off Amazon. I have nothing against that. I love the big Barnes and Nobles and rows and rows of stuff, and I can’t compete with that here,” she said.
“But I hope to bring an experience where you can come in and touch the books. Personally, I could spend hours in a bookstore - any bookstore. When we travel, I try to find a bookstore. The older independent bookstores are my favorite, but chain stores are fine.”
Customers can grab a cup of black coffee or a tea and have a seat in one of the half-dozen reading chairs. Baier said that’s one of her favorite hobbies.
“I love books and I love bookstores and coffee shops. The coffee part was already handled at Swed’s and I was talking with Chris and Maddie Swed about how one day a book store would be great down here,” Baier said.
Chris told her everything she was wanting in a building was across from Pool 19 in Matt Mohrfeld’s building next to Simple Table. Baier said she reached out to Mohrfeld, who wasn’t at the time looking to sell or rent the building, but said he would open the space for Baier to look at.
“He was super supportive and came down to open it up so I could look at it. When I saw it and the light coming in, and the beautiful tin walls and tin ceiling I was so excited,” she said.
“I instantly saw what I was envisioning for a bookstore and what I thought would be great for the town, especially the location.
“Matt agreed to do this and it was a huge help for me. I don’t know - I probably would have kept looking for a building which could have been ten years.
This is Baier’s first foray into a business of her own for more than two decades. She, and husband Jamie Baier, have six children, and Dannette has been the family’s homemaker for 22 years.
The name came for the business came from her in-laws Jim and Linda Baier, who owned a family lodge they named Bent Oak Lodge. She said Jamie proposed to her there and she wanted to keep the legacy of his parents as part of the business.
The store also includes a business suite with wifi for people looking to do business work.
She said her inventory came from used books and donated inventories, but soon she will be start shopping to increase inventory.
“Right now we have a really nice mix of used and new books. And I’m coming to learn that I like looking at the really old books. I didn’t think I would.”
The store is open from 9 to 6 Monday through Friday, and 10 to 5 on Saturday.
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