By CARL E. FEATHER - Staff Writer - cfeather@starbeacon.com
If you head south to Kinsman, there are several other shops you may want to put on your itinerary, especially if you are interested in saving money on gifts.
In Williamsfield (Route 7 north of Route 322), the Plum Crazy shop (look for the purple building) offers used and antique items. It is open Saturdays and Sundays.
On the square in Kinsman, Market Square is one of the most unusual stores in northeast Ohio and the largest used book dealer between Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo.
Owner Don Sutton estimates that he has 100,000 books in his store, which is housed in an 1894 building.
Sutton’s eclectic selection includes wallpaper, used household goods, food, records, antiques and books — three levels of books.
The basement is dedicated to paperbacks (50 cents) and textbooks ($1).
On the main floor, Sutton has thousands of books categorized by subject and genre. The second floor is a work in progress — Sutton bought out an Akron bookstore this summer and is sorting out that collection onto shelves.
Market Square also has an old-fashioned soda fountain where you can purchase ice cream treats, malts, phosphates, shakes and hot dogs. The fountain was formerly in a Rexall drug store that stands adjacent to Sutton’s Book Den.
Market Square is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Just down the street from Market Square, Nick and Bonnie Gulu run the Kinsman General Store, a salvage grocery store that has expanded into second-hand items. It also features baked goods from Sugar-n-Spice, a Kinsman bakery, and meats from the local butcher shop.
The Gulus have owned the store since July 2008.
“This is like a dream come true, I’ve always wanted to have a store,” Bonnie said.
Like many people in northeast Ohio these days, Nick lost his job, and the couple understand the financial pain many of their shoppers are feeling. Bonnie says they try to keep their prices at 50 percent of what items cost in a retail store. They also keep the store clean and neat to make shopping there a pleasant experience.
Kinsman General Store is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays.
