Room of Words in Schofield aims to be your favorite reading hang
The bookstore and hangout opened in February in the space above Hoehn's Huddle
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Walking in the Room of Words in Schofield, you might have to stop and take it in a little bit.
Sure, it’s a bookstore, but the decor is bright, with bright blues, oranges and pinks. The decor and color scheme seem warm and inviting, a place to ease back with a good book.
But that’s hardly the only thing that is surprising about Room of Words, which opened Feb. 7 upstairs in the building that houses Hoehn’s Huddle. Leighanna Hafeman said she wanted a space that was welcoming to all, and that means not only folks young and old feeling free to browse the selection of used books; but to pick up a coffee and some treats she makes herself, and curl up with a book or chat with a friend.
“I expected people to to understand right off the bat like just chill,” Hafeman says. “You can hang out here. Yeah. Come just hang out like That’s what all the seating is for.”
Hafeman had originally hoped to open the shop, which she and her family extensively renovated from 1970s decor to its current condition, in December. But some delays held back the opening date.
But now the shop is open and people are finding it.
Hafeman said money was tight when she was young, and many times she’d only have enough money from her mom to buy a bookmark when the book fair came to the school. She intentionally only accepts donations and offers books from her collection so she can keep the book affordable - especially the children’s books.
But besides the books and a cozy space to read them in, she sells coffee and bakes homemade treats herself for the bookstore. Think bars, cookies, donuts and the like. And though the business doesn’t have a liquor license itself, people can grab beer or wine from the bar and bring it up to enjoy in the space, Hafeman says.
The art on the wall is no mistake either. Hafeman told The Wausonian she wanted to support local artists, and pieces from many of Wausau’s talented art community grace the walls of the store.
If the name sounds unique, it came from a living space she had in Vista, Calif. Hafeman said they had an unused dining nook in her apartment, so she turned it into a reading book - a room of words, if you will.
She said people have been taking to the space, though some get confused coming to it. It might seem like an odd place for the bookstore, but when she mentioned her plans to start a bookstore to the owner of Hoehn’s Huddle, he suggested she build it upstairs from his business, and the rest is history.
Hafeman says she primarily wants to bring a safe space for children in the community to hang out and be themselves, in the way bookstores seem uniquely well-equipped to do.
Room of Words is open from 11 am-8 pm Mon-Wed, Fri.-Sat.; and 11 am-5 pm Sunday. Find more on their Facebook page.
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