ENOLA, Pa. — If you're ever driving through East Pennsboro Township, you won't be able to miss the vibrant colors and details of a mural on Cupboard Maker Books' store.
And when you see it, it's safe to say, you'll know they sell books - but it's a lot more than that.
The bookstore's owners, Jason and Michelle Haring, started their business in 1998, as a small, custom-built, painted furniture and gift store with one shelf of books.
"A year later, 750 square feet, three years later, 1000 square feet, but in ‘03 we moved to the big building, and we became the big bookstore,” Jason said.
Now, they hold over 100,000 used titles, with over 5,000 new ones.
“It took a lot of time and energy and effort to get to this point,” Jason said.
And in 2011, they decided to bring cats into the mix, by partnering with a local, no-kill animal rescue, Castaway Critters.
“It’s been amazing watching people fall in love,” Michelle said.
Cupboard Maker Books acts as a foster home for the rescue's adoptable cats and kittens.
“We help books and cats find their forever homes,” Michelle added.
Since having these furry friends at their business, they've helped the rescue adopt out 241 cats.
Right now, Miss Fluffy Tail, is looking for her "fur-ever" home and can be found at the bookstore.
“They go on Castaway Critters website, and Castaway does all of the heavy lifting,” Michelle said.
Over the years, the store has adopted their own "bookstore cats" that live at Cupboard Maker Books full-time, greeting customers as they walk in.
So, if you make your way in there now, you can easily find Mouse, Odin, and Annika roaming the bookshelves.
“Nine feet off the ground, there are cat walks that connect all of the [book] cases to hold them together,” Jason said.
Their "cat bookstore" has gained popularity over the years, becoming a destination for a lot of out-of-towners. They've had, “somebody from Maine, somebody from Florida…from time to time somebody from Canada comes down… that one still catches me,” Jason said.
For Jason and Michelle, whether it be a book or a cat, they want it to be a welcoming environment for someone to find everything they're looking for, or something they never knew they needed.
“I read a lot, but my wife reads a book a day and has for decades. When you come in and bump into her…’hey I like these two or three authors’ she will help you find dozens and dozens of other books that you would like to read as well,” Jason said.
Michelle has hand-placed every single book in the store and loves giving recommendations.
“People can give me a title, an author, and I’m like…try this!”
Cupboard Maker Books even started selling "blind dates with a book" where you can purchase a wrapped book with a tag that only shares the genre and three facts about the book.
There is so much that goes on at the bookstore - they love connecting with authors and offer a free class for local authors.
And they're always accepting donations on behalf of Castaway Critters.
So, when you visit Cupboard Maker Books, you can find a book, a cat, and stay awhile.
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