ARTICLE
Third spaces can be defined as a social setting separate from your home or workplace. This third location offers a new sense of belonging where we can be ourselves and build new relationships outside of the interactions we have in our daily routines. While the concept of third spaces, or "The Third Place" was originally popularized in the 1980s by American sociologist, Ray Oldenburg, people are still seeking that sense of belonging and connection with others within an informal setting. This informal setting where people can build relationships, be social and free themselves of their daily routine is exactly what Finely Walker wanted when he opened Inklings Book Shoppe in Lakeland. "Everyone needs third spaces. They need these other places to go and be. Sometimes that is a coffee shop, a library, a church, a community center, a YMCA...We see a local independent bookstore as being one of those places as well," said Finley Walker, owner of Inkling Book Shoppe. Walker also relates the importance of having a local bookstore to the idea of liminal spaces. "When you are at the threshold of a door and you enter, everything changes...When you are on the graduation stage and you get that diploma, you are no longer a senior in high school...you are an adult. There are these important moments, and sometimes our lives are defined be these important moments," said Walker. "I think a bookstore and books themselves are this kind of liminal space. You enter reading a book as one person, you go through this journey through the characters or the information being presented, and you come out the other side and you are not the same person anymore," said Walker. Before opening Inklings Book Shoppe, a business previously known as Book Bazaar occupied the space that would later become Inklings, located on S. Combee Rd. Walker said the store was one of the oldest and largest independent bookstores in Central Florida. "In 2019, the owners were looking to retire...I had just finished a doctoral program and the job market was not looking well for me," said Walker. Walker said he was working odd jobs at the time and applying at various places. "I applied for over 150 jobs all over Central Florida," said Walker. He said he and his wife always had an entrepreneurial mindset, and would frequently discuss starting a business. Walker soon found out that the owners of Book Bazaar were interested in retiring from their business. "I met with them...and it started this eight-month process of negotiating and talking terms and contracts...Finally ending up with a purchase of the assets of Book Bazaar," said Walker. He said they formed their own entity, Inklings Book Shoppe while purchasing all of Book Bazaar's inventory at the time. After finally starting their business in 2019, Walker said he and his wife quickly faced some challenges similar to many other small businesses in the coming year. "My wife and I sat down and said, 'I think this will work as long as there is not some type of global economic crisis...As long as there isn't something globally catastrophic we will be perfectly fine," said Walker. Walker opened the doors to Inkling in January 2020, just months before news of COVID-19 hit. While COVID affected the business, Inkling Book Shoppe is still running and they have recently moved to their new location at 243 N Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL. This new location offers them much more exposure right in the Heart of Downtown, Lakeland, and a chance for Walker to truly provide that feeling of a "third space". Walker said he has over 50 thousand books, art from local artists, first editions, antiques and more at Inklings. "Some of the things I really like having at our shop is featuring local artists. Having a canvas for people to show their work and creativity," said Walker. Walker said he feels that Inklings Book Shoppe takes on multiple roles within the community. People can find and buy books, sell or trade and enjoy artwork but it also serves as a place where books and memories are preserved. "With some of our older books, if they are out of print they can be hard to find. Some people are looking for things they read as a child and now they want to share them with their kids. This can be a place where people can come and tie into this broader heritage of books throughout the generations," said Walker. "It's fun, its inspiring. You have this person that 400 years ago had this inkling and put it to pen and paper...and I can read that now. I have a window to this other person's mind, history and past," said Walker. For more information about Inklings Book Shoppe and its huge selection of books spanning before the 1800s to the present day, visit their page.
Third spaces can be defined as a social setting separate from your home or workplace. This third location offers a new sense of belonging where we can be ourselves and build new relationships outside of the interactions we have in our daily routines. While the concept of third spaces, or "The Third Place" was originally popularized in the 1980s by American sociologist, Ray Oldenburg, people are still seeking that sense of belonging and connection with others within an informal setting.
This informal setting where people can build relationships, be social and free themselves of their daily routine is exactly what Finely Walker wanted when he opened Inklings Book Shoppe in Lakeland.
"Everyone needs third spaces. They need these other places to go and be. Sometimes that is a coffee shop, a library, a church, a community center, a YMCA...We see a local independent bookstore as being one of those places as well," said Finley Walker, owner of Inkling Book Shoppe.
Walker also relates the importance of having a local bookstore to the idea of liminal spaces.
"When you are at the threshold of a door and you enter, everything changes...When you are on the graduation stage and you get that diploma, you are no longer a senior in high school...you are an adult. There are these important moments, and sometimes our lives are defined be these important moments," said Walker.
"I think a bookstore and books themselves are this kind of liminal space. You enter reading a book as one person, you go through this journey through the characters or the information being presented, and you come out the other side and you are not the same person anymore," said Walker.
Before opening Inklings Book Shoppe, a business previously known as Book Bazaar occupied the space that would later become Inklings, located on S. Combee Rd. Walker said the store was one of the oldest and largest independent bookstores in Central Florida.
"In 2019, the owners were looking to retire...I had just finished a doctoral program and the job market was not looking well for me," said Walker.
Walker said he was working odd jobs at the time and applying at various places.
"I applied for over 150 jobs all over Central Florida," said Walker.
He said he and his wife always had an entrepreneurial mindset, and would frequently discuss starting a business. Walker soon found out that the owners of Book Bazaar were interested in retiring from their business.
"I met with them...and it started this eight-month process of negotiating and talking terms and contracts...Finally ending up with a purchase of the assets of Book Bazaar," said Walker.
He said they formed their own entity, Inklings Book Shoppe while purchasing all of Book Bazaar's inventory at the time.
After finally starting their business in 2019, Walker said he and his wife quickly faced some challenges similar to many other small businesses in the coming year.
"My wife and I sat down and said, 'I think this will work as long as there is not some type of global economic crisis...As long as there isn't something globally catastrophic we will be perfectly fine," said Walker.
Walker opened the doors to Inkling in January 2020, just months before news of COVID-19 hit.
While COVID affected the business, Inkling Book Shoppe is still running and they have recently moved to their new location at 243 N Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL. This new location offers them much more exposure right in the Heart of Downtown, Lakeland, and a chance for Walker to truly provide that feeling of a "third space".
Walker said he has over 50 thousand books, art from local artists, first editions, antiques and more at Inklings.
"Some of the things I really like having at our shop is featuring local artists. Having a canvas for people to show their work and creativity," said Walker.
Walker said he feels that Inklings Book Shoppe takes on multiple roles within the community. People can find and buy books, sell or trade and enjoy artwork but it also serves as a place where books and memories are preserved.
"With some of our older books, if they are out of print they can be hard to find. Some people are looking for things they read as a child and now they want to share them with their kids. This can be a place where people can come and tie into this broader heritage of books throughout the generations," said Walker.
"It's fun, its inspiring. You have this person that 400 years ago had this inkling and put it to pen and paper...and I can read that now. I have a window to this other person's mind, history and past," said Walker.
For more information about Inklings Book Shoppe and its huge selection of books spanning before the 1800s to the present day, visit their page.