Next Chapter Bookstore

This summer (2025), I drove four times into Barre, Vermont, and every time I wanted to visit this bookstore, it was closed --- during business hours when they should have been open! Not once was a sign displayed, explaining the unexpected closure. When I called their telephone number, three times I got their voice mail. On the fourth call, someone picked up the phone --- but remained completely silent! Did this bookstore go out of business? Why do you not communicate to your customers regarding your business hours? UNPREDICTABLE and UNRELIABLE! First, call the bookstore to guaranty it will be open to avoid a wasted drive to Barre!

Horse-drawn carriage rides right outside of the Next Chapter Bookstore. Part of the holiday celebration! I wish I had taken a picture of the stores’ mascot > Gracie. She is the best, most friendliest dog. I love children’s books and would have liked to see a bigger selection but other than that, a top notch bookstore with extremely warm and friend staff (including Gracie).

Drove 1.5 hrs specifically to come to this store during operating hours only to find it closed. I attempted to call and there was no answer and no voicemail set up to leave a message. I tried the website and it wouldn't load. We spoke with someone who works in the same building the store is in and we were told that it's not open very often anymore. Open times are random and unpredictable.

When we travel, we enjoy supporting independent book stores. We are always pleased with the personalized service and the unique charm of each store... However, in this case, we didn't even have the opportunity to see the charm. The woman who was behind the counter was less than pleasant. When Wife#1 asked if there was an available rest room, the woman was quite rude. There was clearly a bathroom in the children's section of the store. I'm not sure why we were not allowed to use it. We would have stayed to browse and would have, more than likely, made a purchase; but we chose, instead, to move on...