What’s better than a book store? A book cabin. There’s something special about browsing books in person vs. on Amazon, but browsing in a cabin is even cozier than it sounds. We’re sharing a first look at the newly opened The Book Cabin just north of Lake George Village, along with owner Stephanie Jalowiec’s top picks for summer reading…
Tell us a bit about yourself, Stephanie!
I have been “selling books” for the last 23 years as a public school teacher in Connecticut. Most recently, I've been a Literacy Consultant working with kindergarten through fifth grade. I LOVE my day job! Helping students access the world of books and discover that every person can be an avid reader and writer is important to me.
I come from a family of voracious readers - we even have a Cape Cod vacation reading club! As a small child, my mom would regularly take us to the library and then as we got older, we'd visit Walden Books in my hometown. I can still see their shelf of Sweet Valley High books.
My husband Jim and I met in 1998 - he was working at Lee Partyka Chevrolet and sold me my used Pontiac Sunfire. On our second date, he tried to talk to me about Ernest Hemingway and I couldn't stop laughing. Neither one of us remember reading any Hemingway in high school. He was trying to pretend he liked to read, too, and it was the first author that popped into his head.
We have two amazing children - Nathan (16) and Addison (12) who sometimes like to read. It's all about the right book!
Owner Stephanie Jalowiec at The Book Cabin
What inspired you to open a bookstore?
My husband and I first came to Lake George in 1998 and instantly fell in love with all the area offers. We knew we would want to eventually work and live here. At first we started with a small cabin in the shadow of Mount Crane for weekends and summers and about five years ago, built a home in the Town of Lake George. We are eager to make Lake George our permanent home.
During the pandemic lockdown, we kept walking past the Trinity Rock Motel property that was for sale. We were pulled towards the idea of creating a more permanent way to live in Lake George. Our children are well settled into their Connecticut lives so we know moving here full time won't be for a few more years. Jim and I always like to play the game of - what else do you want to be when you grow up? The only answer I ever have to that question is a bookstore owner.
The pandemic left me a lot of time to dream. Could I really be brave and open a small retail business? We all know many businesses in the LG area come and go. Will I have what it takes to become a community anchor? Does the area have enough readers to sustain a small shop?
In April of 2020, I was reading the book Untamed by Glennon Doyle and she reminded readers to be brave and do hard things. Just because when I was 21 and loved teaching, doesn't mean I have to do it until I'm in the grave...so here we are.
We scooped up the property and our budget only allowed me to start the bookstore. The motel renovation is for another year (those lumber prices need to come down!). Once we acquired the property, I literally couldn't stop myself from opening the store. There was no way I was waiting for my kiddos to be done with school! So, for now, we are a weekend and summer store.
We love the idea of a Book Cabin - we’d love to hear about the cabin itself, any history behind it, and why you chose it as your shop location!
Our little cabin was part of the Trinity Rock Motel corporation and was built by two brothers for their mother who opened up a farm stand. My understanding is that the farm stand was only open a few years. The brothers did a beautiful job including large rustic logs in the interior. It needed almost no work to open a retail shop.
We chose this location for two reasons: real estate in the village is too expensive to purchase or rent and the property allowed for both of us to have a project for our LG future. We hope that as word gets out about our new shop - it will become a sweet destination for tourists and locals who are looking for something besides t-shirt shops.
What can customers expect to see at the cabin?
You’ll find books for all ages (mostly contemporary fiction and nonfiction), toys (a range of outdoor and indoor games featuring DJECO products), writing supplies (journals, notecards, grammar pencils, and paper products featuring E Frances Paper Company and Moleskin), art activities (amazing projects for children and sketch products for all ages), bookish gifts (Fly Paper Products candles, barware, totebags, and stickers), and other gifts (Mira windchimes, Parsley and Paisley drink coasters).
We’d love to hear five of your top book recommendations for summer.
This question is like asking a mother who their favorite child is! Some recent favorites for adults (that have not been featured by Reese and Jenna!):
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart made me ache for the children who grow up in homes plagues by substance abuse.
Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country by Pam Houston is for readers who loved Wild by Cheryl Strayed.
Big Girl, Small Town by Michelle Gallen will make you laugh and quickly cringe as Majella deals with her family's difficult situation.
Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay is a quick paced read for sitting lakeside this summer.
House of Sticks by Ly Tran is a timely memoir about her family's immigration to the United States and growing up with a controlling father in a foreign land.
What’s next for the Book Cabin - any plans for the future?
I have HUGE plans for our future and look forward to growing with the community. I would love to add a snack and drink cart and additional themed book buildings on the existing property. I would also love to work with the community providing unique teacher workshops and scholarships for classroom libraries. There is so much we can do together as a reading and writing community for Warren County.
