About Us

This   crazy   venture   into   the   world   of   books   and   candy   selling   was   first   initiated   by   husband John   Deyo   to   his   wife   Lisa   in   November   of   2015   as   a   “You’ve   always   wanted   to   do   this   and now   there’s   a   store   front   available   .   .   .   why   not?”      Lisa   quickly   was   embraced   by   friends Susan   DeVries   (artist   and   reader   and   expertise   of   all!)   and   Diane   Sherman   (the   Candy Czar!)   as   accomplices   in   making   the   store   happen.   Crazy   friends   like   the   Smiths   and   P Keener   continually   offered   building   help,   shopping   help,   etc.      By   June   of   2016,   the   doors opened   and   people   entered   an   eclectic   100   foot   long   store   featuring   John’s   30   foot   long locomotive,    shelves    of    nostalgic    candies,    a    picturesque    (literally    speaking)    bathroom, unique   genre   settings   with   trees,   workbenches,   padded   floors,   and   15   foot   tall   ice   cream sundae.      July   of   2016   brought   the   World’s   Largest   Collection   of   Berenstain   Bears   to   the store   –   our   own   museum   across   the   street   from   the   world   famous   Spam   Museum.      Owner B   Mariska   was   the   feature   of   the   podcast   during   the   grand   opening   of   the   collection.     August   of   2016   brought   more   merchandise   additions   and   the   exciting   additions   of   the 1040’s   Lionel   working   train   inside   the   big   train   and   the   loves-to-be-played   upright   piano, from Lisa’s cousins, the Lyles.  Local    author    visits    are    the    highlights    of    the    bookstore    –    award    winners    to    first    time published.   Many   genres   are   featured   –   from   the   romances   of   Sherrie   Hansen   Decker   or Gail   Kittlesen   to   the   award   winning   Auto-biographies   of   Hope   Jahren   or   Peggy   Keener   to mysteries   by   Jeff   Ollman   or   Harriet   Niebuhr   or   Allen   Eskens   to   youth   /   adult   coloring books   by   Eileen   Chao   or   Terri   Andersen   or   John   Wix.      The   community   supports   their expression and work.