Doylestown And Lahaska Bookshops Sold To Owners Of Hendrixson's

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The beloved Doylestown Bookshop on South Main Street and the Lahaska Bookshop at Peddler's Village are changing hands.

Lauren and Damian Ford, owners of Hendrixson’s Furniture in Furlong and Emmaus, announced this week that they have purchased the stores from Glenda Childs, who will stay on through the end of the year to help with the transition.

Since coming on board at Hendrixson's in 1993, the Fords said they have valued the importance of family ownership, working closely with Lauren’s brother, Jonathan, and Damian’s brother, Aaron, at the business. Lauren’s parents, Paul and Virginia Hendrixson, opened the store in 1965.

"Our journey with Hendrixson's has been a journey of creating comfort and ambiance in homes," said Lauren Hendrixson-Ford, the president of Hendrixson's Furniture. "We see a natural synergy between our longstanding furniture business and the warmth that bookshops radiate. Just as we believe that the right furniture can tell a story, books hold the power to transport readers to new realms. By adding these beloved bookshops to our family, we are uniting the joy of reading with the art of designing spaces that reflect individuality."

Co-owner and business partner Damian Ford said while his focus will primarily remain on Hendrixson's Furniture, "the extension of our presence to include these beloved bookshops is an exciting evolution. Both Lauren and I are committed to nurturing the soul of these community gems, infusing them with the values that have defined our journey thus far."

Lauren and Damian’s daughter, Honor, has worked for The Doylestown and Lahaska Bookshops for six years.

“My parents have always instilled in us (their four kids) not only the value of shopping locally but also the value of books," said Honor. "There are books in every room of our home, ones that have been read, loved, and read again. My brother and I listened to Max Lucado’s 'A Crippled Lamb' on cassette tape every night before bed as babies, learned to read with Dick and Jane, and as we got older, dutifully stood in line with our parents and siblings for the midnight release of each new Harry Potter book.

Lauren and Damian Ford, owners of Hendrixson’s Furniture, have purchased The Doylestown and Lahaska Bookshops. (Contributed)

"The magic created by those release parties at The Doylestown Bookshop is one of the things that cemented my love of reading and what led me eventually to apply to work at the Doylestown and Lahaska Bookshops," she continued. "I look forward to the chance to work alongside them!”

Glenda Childs purchased The Doylestown Bookshop in 2012 from Patricia and Phil Gerney. In 2017, Glenda opened The Lahaska Bookshop, a sister store to the Doylestown location in Peddler’s Village, and has continued to grow and nurture both stores.

“Owning the bookshops has been everything I ever dreamed of and more," she said. "I took great care in finding a buyer who would continue the legacy of the bookshops, serving our community and their book needs in an independent and mission-oriented manner. I have been talking with the new owners, Lauren and Damian Ford, for more than five years about this possibility. I'm so happy for them and their future with the bookshops.”

Glenda said she's looking forward to remaining at both bookstores through the end of the year to assist with the transition. All current bookstore employees will stay on staff.