Small Business Spotlight - Hello Again Books | Historic Cocoa Village
Hello Again Books has a very special place in my heart, so, naturally, they were the first small business I wanted to feature as I reboot my Small Business Spotlight posts after moving to the Space Coast in Central Florida. If you haven't checked them out yet (what are you waiting for?!), Hello Again Books is a women-owned, LGBTQ+ owned new and used independent bookstore in Historic Cocoa Village in Cocoa, FL (not to be confused with Cocoa Beach, which is west of Cocoa and Merritt Island). In addition to new and used books, they also carry a variety of fun gifts for book lovers of all ages. Honestly, you'd never know upon first walking in that they sell used books as everything is organized and displayed so well! There are cozy chairs and a couch to sit and relax, which every good bookstore should have. You can even sit and play a game of chess with their super fun rainbow chess board. Hello Again Books is more than just a bookstore though. They really live out their mission (from their website): Provide a safe space that embraces our three core values (community, diversity, and creativity) by offering a variety of new and used books, literary gift items, and inspiring, fun events for readers of all ages. There is almost always something going on in the store, and their events are free! From author book signings, story time for kids, special guests like Alligator Robb with his reptiles, pop ups of local artisans with their wares, and you can't forget their two book clubs! They have a great book club on the last Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM and a "smut" book club on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM. On Fridays, they host LGBTQ+ (and allies) game night, and Sunday afternoons you can bring in your knitting/crocheting/stitching projects and work on them while chatting with fellow crafters. There's always something fun for Independent Bookstore Day (last Saturday in April) and other events throughout the year. Plus they host/co-host two big events in the village each year: Historic Cocoa Village Book Fest and Be the Rainbow, a fun, family event in the village to celebrate and honor diversity in our community (humanity is a rainbow!) and raise money for charity. There are even more things they do throughout the year to support the community. The best way to find out about events is by following them on Facebook and/or Instagram.
The owners, Amy and MerryBeth, are two of the kindest people you'll ever meet. They are so welcoming to all and they are such a great part of the community. One of the reasons they opened their store was to build community, and they have done an amazing job of it! Amy has a day job, so you'll most likely catch her on the weekends (usually on the couch!) and at book club on the last Wednesday of the month. Most days, you'll find MerryBeth behind the counter or about the store working on something. If you're interested in hearing more about why they opened the bookstore and how they got started, you can listen to their podcast interview with EEARSS. In their three years of being open (as of this writing), they have been featured in a multitude of publications and lists of bookstores to visit, including: September 2022 issue of Southern Living article about Cocoa (both print and online), Flamingo Magazine's 13 Favorite Indie Bookstores, Southern Living's 20 Bookstores Everyone Should Visit in Florida, and even a list on Oprah Daily.
There's something for everyone with their wide variety of books, including a great children's section. Don't forget to check the clearance deals in the back of the store! And while you're in the back, look down and check out the cool floor covered in book pages.
And now for a personal note on why this small business and the people here are so close to my heart. When we first moved to the Space Coast in early 2021, we were in the middle of a pandemic and I wasn't sure how we would find community here. I figured it would take longer than usual to find our people since I homeschool my son and we were still mostly staying away from people at that time. Thankfully we connected right away with another homeschool family that we really clicked with, which was amazing that it happened so quickly. As soon as I found out there was an independent bookstore close by, I knew I needed to check it out. We went a couple of times and then over the summer, they put a call out for puzzlers to help put together a 3D puzzle of Hogwarts in preparation for their Harry Potter birthday celebration. Well, my family and I love both puzzles and Harry Potter so my son and I went in for an afternoon to hang out and work on the puzzle (and then he watched some Harry Potter when he eventually got bored from how long we were there). Puzzles are addicting, so we went back a couple days later to help them finish it. And then we attended the birthday celebration and it was starting to feel like we were finding community here. Fast forward to early 2022 when I found out they had a book club and joined and have met so many wonderful people. I finally found somewhere here I felt like I belonged. My son also loves stopping in to check for books or even just see if he can help. He loves when MerryBeth lets him check people out! Moving is hard, especially trying to find your people after a move and during a pandemic, and I'm so glad we've found them. And now I teach my camera classes at Hello Again Books! I am forever grateful to them for the community and support. They are truly some of my favorite people <3.
If you're local to the Space Coast or come here for vacation... stop in and see what they have! If you have books you no longer want/need, you can bring those and donate them to the store. This helps them keep the used book prices low, as well as continue offering free events for the community. Follow them on Facebook and/or Instagram Order books through their Bookshop page.
Do you need photos for your website and marketing to help potential clients/customers see what you're all about? Do you want custom stock photography that speaks to your brand (and save you hours of searching on a stock website)? Do you want to stand out with professional photos to use in your social media posts that actually speak to you and your brand? Contact me to learn more about my small business lifestyle branding sessions! 
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Kimberly Tank is an award-winning professional photographer in Rockledge, FL, servicing Brevard County on the Space Coast in Central Florida (including Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Merritt Island, Viera and surrounding areas). Using natural light and custom on location sessions, Kimberly Tank specializes in photographing families from babies to seniors and commercial clients, both on land and underwater; providing an exceptional customer experience and helping save you time and preserve this chapter in your life's story. Kimberly Tank is a proud member and ambassador of National Association of Professional Child Photographers. Signup for my monthly newsletter and receive a FREE PDF on taking better photos of your kids! Click HERE Contact Me for more info and/or to book a session
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