Popular New Bedford Bookstore Expanding to New Location

Another local business on the SouthCoast is closing its doors, but luckily it's not a tearful "goodbye," but rather a hopeful "see you soon." Aviary Books located at 10 N 6th Street in New Bedford is saying farewell to its first home.

Why Aviary Books Decided to Move

"I've been thinking about moving the shop for a while now, but the available options or timing were never quite right," owner Laura Ryan said.

"Just when I decided to put moving on the back burner, this opportunity fell into my lap," Ryan said.

The new space, located at 22 William Street, solves many problems for the local bookstore.

READ MORE: New Bedford's Newest Spot for Readers and Book Lovers

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What the New Storefront Will Offer

"Accessibility is a huge problem in my current space on the second floor. It's also very small," Ryan said.

The new space – which is the yellow house right across from the Whaling Museum entrance – is over four times the size of Aviary Books' current location and has ground floor entry.

READ MORE: Tiverton's Yellow House Debuts Cozy Corner Bar

"There will be room for many more books and better displays of all the beautiful photography and art books I currently have on the shelf," Ryan said.

A Bigger Space for Rare and Art Books

She also plans to dedicate a section for a rare book gallery, showcasing what she calls items from "the more unusual items in my inventory."

"Moving 10,000 books won't be easy, but everything is moving along and I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and do the work," Ryan said.

Ryan and her staff at Aviary Books invite the community to celebrate their move with a special sale: buy four books, get the fifth free.

READ MORE: This Massachusetts Mobile Coffee Shop Doubles as a Used Bookstore

"Come say goodbye to the very first nesting site for Aviary Books before the flock moves to a bigger tree," Aviary Books shared on its Facebook page.

Community Support Helped Fuel the Expansion

"When I first opened the bookshop I was unsure if there would be any interest, but it turns out my fears were unfounded," Ryan said. "In the year and a half since I opened, I've met so many amazing people and made some great friends. I've been truly humbled by the support I've received, and it's been encouraging to see such an enthusiastic response to my moving announcement."

"Book people really are the best people. The new space will be a step up in scale in all aspects of the business, and that includes welcoming even more people in the SouthCoast community," Ryan said.