BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A couple is beginning a new chapter in their professional lives, and they can’t wait to share it with the Lehigh Valley community.
Semicolon Books, a neighborhood bookstore offering a wide array of genres, is expected to open in late March or early April at 559 Main St. Suite 007 in downtown Bethlehem, co-owner Charles Debski told 69 News.
The new store will occupy an updated space that previously housed a staffing agency on the lower level of the Main Street Commons.
Semicolon Books, a neighborhood bookstore offering a wide array of genres, is coming soon to 559 Main St. Suite 007 in downtown Bethlehem.
Ryan Kneller
Debski and his wife, Udval Yun, are aiming to create a cozy and welcoming bookstore where individuals can shop a large selection of titles.
The business also will offer coffee and tea, and there will be a small seating area for individuals wishing to enjoy some light reading.
“Our dream is to build a space rooted in comfort and warmth – a place where you can slow down, unwind, and get lost in a good book,” the couple announced on the business’ social media pages.
“Bookstores have always been places of peace, comfort, and joy for us. Now, we’re challenging ourselves to create one of our own, inspired by our shared love of stories and genuine appreciation for the power of the written word.”
Debski and Yun met in college nearly 10 years ago, spent their corporate life era together in New York City and eventually got married and settled into Bethlehem a couple of years ago.
Debski, who grew up in Palmerton, has always been attracted to Bethlehem’s beauty and historic nature, and the couple found the city to be the perfect spot to put down roots and establish their dream business.
Semicolon Books, a neighborhood bookstore offering a wide array of genres, is coming soon to 559 Main St. Suite 007 in downtown Bethlehem.
Ryan Kneller
Yun and Debski are passionate about reading, viewing the hobby as an escape from the hectic aspects of their lives, and they saw a prime opportunity to build on that passion while serving their new home community at the same time.
“When we were in New York, working our stressful jobs in the finance realm, we found books to be a good escape from all of the stress and pressure that we were feeling,” Debski said.
“So, we appreciated that, and on top of that, we always liked the atmosphere that a bookstore brings to a community, especially a neighborhood bookstore. It’s cozy, brings people together and is a place where people can relax. That’s also where we drew our name from with the semicolon because in a sentence, a semicolon is a pause in a sentence and not necessarily the end of a sentence. So, we thought all of that came together in what reading really meant for us.”
Semicolon Books will be a general bookstore, carrying a large selection of genres, including fiction, nonfiction, children’s books and more.
Semicolon Books, a neighborhood bookstore offering a wide array of genres, is coming soon to 559 Main St. Suite 007 in downtown Bethlehem.
Ryan Kneller
The owners have varying personal tastes, with Debski being a fan of horror and thriller books and Yun preferring historical fiction books.
“I think [historical fiction] is a learning curve about history that wild dives into a storyline,” Yun said. “… It’s good that we’re different as we can relate to different customers.”
The space will feature a reading nook with lounge furniture, and refreshments also will be available.
“When customers purchase a book, they could just sit down, have a cup of coffee or tea and read a little bit of their book before they move on throughout the day,” Debski said.
Hours are still being finalized, but the tentative plan is for the store to operate Wednesday through Sunday, Yun said.
For the latest updates, including an official opening announcement, follow Semicolon Books on Facebook and Instagram.