Trying to escape cyberspace? Slack’s Book Barn is the place to unplug. The former barn-turned-bookstore is a two-level building filled top to bottom with bookshelves and smells like old paper and rustic wood. Bins of books sit on the floor, waiting to move up to the shelves. Home to over 60,000 books, the Book Barn is the perfect escape from social media.
The Slacks, David and Tina, married later in life. After raising their families, they now live and work together. David Slack owned multiple businesses prior to the Book Barn, including another bookstore, but none of them stuck quite like his current venture.
The barn, previously used to build and sell furniture, was built in the 80s. The Slacks opened the bookstore soon after the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
“We started looking around and every place we saw wasn’t worth the money,” David says. “We got lucky and happened across this one.”
David, the owner, claims that many of his customers are not who you’d expect. While middle-aged collectors or older generations might come looking for a book from their past, the younger generation also comes searching for physical media in a digital world.
“I know a CD sounds better, but there’s something about putting a vinyl on,” David says. “There’s something perfect about the imperfections. Books are that way too.”
Search engines rely on predictive algorithms and search history; at Book Barn, the only algorithm is chance. No pop-up ads distract customers as they run their hands along book spines, looking for the right novel.
Sorted simply by genres and authors, the selection of books constantly changes. With a selection that dates back to the Industrial Revolution, there is a book for anyone and everyone.
The Slacks credit a large amount of their sales to the Amish and Mennonite communities. The two groups have a very strong population scattered throughout southern Ohio. Both cultures limit technology use, so they turn to the classic pastime of reading.
“Maybe a truck will come up and it’ll have an Amish family in it,” David says. “Somebody’s driving them and they like to stop. They really, really enjoy the books.”
Whether returning to Ohio to visit family or for vacation, Slack’s Book Barn has become a ‘must stop’ location for returning customers.
“I have a guy who lives in California, and he comes here once a year,” Tina says. “We have people that come from Cleveland, Toledo, Canton … People who know they’re going to Old Man’s Cave or Hocking Hills look us up coming off of I-70. We’re the only bookstore between here and there, pretty much.”
70% of people who come through the door end up with some kind of purchase, often leaving with a stack.
“When you’re selling them for $5, and a hardback costs $25 if you buy it brand new, they’re coming out pretty good,” David says.
David and Tina can be found working at the store six days a week, making the barn a second home. Their reliable presence and quiet nature of the store give the space a cozy feel.
Slack’s Book Barn takes donations and buys used books of all kinds. A warning to those looking to offload books: you may leave with just as many as you brought.
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