Ingersoll’s new independent bookstore draws hundreds on opening day

Excited book lovers lining up downtown Ingersoll for Commonplace Books Opening day. (Shannon McKechnie photo)

Kyrah Smith, Echo Correspondent

Ingersoll welcomed a new addition to its downtown on Oct. 25 with the opening of Commonplace Books, an independent bookstore that is already winning over local readers.

“It was nuts! We had roughly 400 to 500 people come through,” said owner Shannon McKechnie, smiling from the whirlwind of opening day.

The shop’s debut was a hit, with eager book lovers lining up down the street. Visitors were able to enjoy the opening with local author signings by Nathaniel Luscombe and Lauren O’Brien, plus on-the-spot typewriter poetry by Poetry by V.

Located at 105 Thames Street South, Commonplace Books is the realization of a long-held dream for McKechnie.

“The bookstore had always been a ten-year dream of mine,” she shared. “Then, when the higher education sector imploded this year, laying off about 10,000 people across the province, me included, it became a six-month dream. This space was available, and it all came together quite quickly. It really was a stars-aligned kind of thing.”

McKechnie hopes to make the store a hub for readers and writers alike, with several new book clubs in the works, including romance, fantasy, young adult, and one devoted to local authors.

“Nathaniel is going to run that one,” she said. “It’ll feature local and Ontario indie-published authors.”

Future collaborations with community spaces such as Fusion Youth Centre and the Ingersoll Public Library are also on the horizon.

“I’m very excited for everything to come!” McKechnie said.

Next up for Commonplace Books is a book signing on Nov. 12 for the upcoming release ‘Not Today, Satan’ by Samantha Joyce, beginning at 5 p.m.

For event details and updates, visit www.commonplaceingersoll.ca.