Release Date: February 22,2019

Independent book store now open in downtown Akron

Business is latest to open as part of downtown Akron pop-up retail program

Phase four of Downtown Akron Partnership’s pop-up retail program continues with the opening of Trust Books. Trust Books is a book store located below Northside Cellar in the Northside District.

Trust Books, located at 106 N. Main St. is an addition to the Northside Cellar that opened in June 2018. Owned by Wendy Geonis and Jodie Oates, the shop carries new contemporary fashion, consignment clothing, local artwork, furniture and home accessories.

The addition of Trust Books adds a new dimension to the retail space by bringing a necessary bookstore to downtown Akron. The bookstore is curated and operated by Michael Owen. Trust Books includes a gallery committed to Northcoast artists, the downtown showroom for Whiskertin Lighting, and transforms into an intimate music venue in the storied northside tradition.

“We fell in love with the urban renewal taking place in the Northside District as well as downtown Akron in general,” said Wendy Geonis. “We saw this as a great opportunity to add to the already growing walkable retail in downtown and to be part of the growing movement to better our city.”

“We wouldn’t want to be any other place,” added Jodie Oates. “We are excited to see what’s next for us and downtown Akron.”

Trust Books is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Follow the shop on Instagram @trustbooks.

The Downtown Akron Partnership pop-up retail program began in 2015. Since its inception a total of 35 new businesses have opened and range from store front retail locations to vendors in the Northside Marketplace. Phase four is supported by Burton D. Morgan Foundation and is expanded to include any new business, not only retail store fronts, for available space in the Special Improvement District.