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By Christine Graf
The Book Nook, a small, independent secondhand bookstore opened its doors in Ballston Lake on March 1.
Located at 146 Raylinksky Road, Suite 4A, in the plaza behind Stewart’s, the store carries a wide selection of books for adults and children.
Before opening the bookstore, owner Sue Rainka worked for her family’s business, Hart Alarm Systems. After she and her siblings sold the Watervliet company in 2020, Rainka stayed on to work for the new owners. It wasn’t until after her mother passed away in 2022 that she decided to pursue her dream of opening her own bookstore.
“I had always talked to my mom about wanting to open a bookstore,” she said. “I’ve worked a lot of year and this is something I’ve always wanted to do, so I decided now was the time to do it.”
While scouting for locations, Rainka posted on Facebook that she was collecting donations of used books for her new store. The donations started pouring in, and within a matter of months, she had collected close to 1,000 books.
“I got such a wide array of books. It was just incredible,” she said. “I couldn’t believe what I was lucky enough to have donated. My first donation was a Harry Potter set. I was floored that someone would donate that.”
When Rainka opened her doors the store was stocked entirely with donated books. Although she continues to accept donations, she now offers store credit in exchange for books that are in good condition and that are likely to sell. Encyclopedias, Reader’s Digest condensed books, library books, and Harlequin Romances are not accepted.
With help from her husband, Phil Patnode, Rainka designed the store as a place for customers to relax as they browse for books.
The Book Nook features comfortable seating, a Kid’s Nook, and a kitchen area with complementary hot beverages. There’s always a puzzle in progress that customers are encouraged to work on.
According to Rainka, she has been overwhelmed by the community’s support of her store during her first month in business.
“We’ve been very busy since we opened, and I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback. Everyone has been so welcoming,” she said.
The Book Nook has thousands of books in stock, and they have an average selling price of around $5. While newer books are more expensive, they are always priced at more than 50 percent below their full retail value. Audio books are also available.
“I’m certainly not going to get rich from selling used books, but I want to cover my expenses and make the store a positive experience for people,” said Rainka. “I feel very fortunate that I’m able to be able to surrounded by books and people who love my books.”
The Book Nook is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.thebooknook2023.