This Ohio Bookstore Feels Like A Cozy Literary Hideout With Two Feline Hosts
Bookstores are already risky places for anyone with “just browsing” confidence, but this Ohio shop raises the stakes with room after room of shelves, friendly prices, and two resident cats who clearly believe they manage the place.
Bring a tote bag and prepare for literary supervision. A cozy book hunt is better when the hosts have whiskers.
The fun is in how the space keeps unfolding. You step inside expecting a modest stop, then find two floors of books, records, movies, local gifts, and enough quiet corners to make leaving feel like a plot twist you are not ready to accept.
A Bookstore That Keeps Surprising You Around Every Corner
Some bookstores show you the whole story right away, but Kicks Mix Bookstore likes to keep a few plot twists hidden between the shelves.
From the outside, this downtown Newark shop looks modest enough, but once you step in, the space keeps unfolding in the best possible way.
New rooms appear around corners, shelves seem to stretch farther than expected, and a staircase leads upstairs like the store is politely daring you to keep exploring.
It has the kind of layout that makes “I’ll just browse for a minute” feel like famous last words.
Visitors often come in expecting a small bookshop and leave surprised by how much there is to see, from books and records to movies, gifts, and quiet corners made for slow browsing.
The whole place feels lived-in, loved, and delightfully unhurried, which is exactly the mood a cozy bookstore should have.
You are not being pushed through a polished retail grid here. You are wandering through a literary hideout where every turn might lead to a title you did not know you needed.
You can find Kicks Mix Bookstore at 38 S. 3rd St., Newark, OH 43055.
Meet Edgar Allan Paws and Margaret Catwood
The bookstore has two resident cats, and they take their roles very seriously. Edgar Allan Paws is one of the shop’s famous feline hosts, a name so perfectly bookish that it almost feels like the store was built around him.
He shares the spotlight with Margaret Catwood, another resident cat whose name fits the literary mood just as well. Together, they have become part of the bookstore’s personality and one of the details visitors remember most.
These cats are not just decorations. They interact with guests, curl up near the shelves, and add a warmth to the atmosphere that no amount of interior design could replicate.
For families with children, the cats are often the highlight of the whole visit. Kids who might not be natural bookstore enthusiasts suddenly find themselves very interested in browsing, as long as one of the feline hosts is somewhere nearby.
Edgar Allan Paws and Margaret Catwood have even earned mentions in the store’s own online presence, which tells you everything about their standing in the community.
Two Floors of Books, Records, Movies, and More
The collection at Kicks Mix goes well beyond standard paperback fiction. The store carries books on two full floors, covering topics from local Ohio history to children’s literature, from new releases to used classics priced under three dollars.
Beyond books, there are records, movies, and CDs tucked into the mix, which gives the store its eclectic personality and explains the name perfectly. You might come for a novel and leave with a vinyl record you had been searching for since high school.
The second floor is a genuine revelation for first-time visitors. It opens up in a way that feels almost theatrical, and the range of media available up there adds another layer to an already deep collection.
There are also trinkets and small gifts sourced from local craft makers, including bookmarks and stickers that make thoughtful, affordable souvenirs. The store has a strong commitment to keeping things local, which shows in nearly every corner of the inventory.
Whether you are shopping for yourself or hunting for a gift, the sheer variety here makes it easy to find something worth taking home.
New Books, Used Books, and Prices That Feel Almost Too Good
One of the most talked-about features of this store is how it balances new titles with secondhand finds.
Used books are a major part of the appeal, and visitors often describe the browsing as the kind of treasure hunt that can turn one quick stop into a full bag of discoveries.
Several visitors have noted leaving with stacks of books for less than they expected to spend, which is the kind of math that makes a book lover’s heart race. The quality of the used inventory is part of the fun, especially when you find a clean copy of something you did not even know you needed.
New books are also available, including recent releases and titles that are harder to find at chain stores. If the shop does not have a specific title in stock, the staff can place an order for you, which adds a layer of service that most indie stores do not advertise loudly enough.
The mix of old and new creates a shopping experience that feels complete. You can grab a fresh hardcover for a gift and a stack of used paperbacks for yourself, all in the same visit without feeling like you need a financial recovery plan afterward.
That kind of value, combined with the atmosphere and the cats, is exactly why repeat customers keep showing up.
The Children’s Section Is a Small World of Its Own
Parents shopping with young children will find that Kicks Mix has thought carefully about its youngest visitors.
The children’s area is set up in a way that makes kids feel like the space belongs to them, not just a corner tacked onto the back of an adult store.
Books are arranged at kid-friendly heights, and the selection covers a wide range of ages and reading levels. Picture books, early readers, and middle-grade fiction all have a place here, and the curation feels intentional rather than random.
The atmosphere in the children’s section carries the same warmth as the rest of the store, and the resident cats tend to drift through, which is always a bonus for small visitors. A four-year-old who might normally resist a bookstore trip will find plenty of reasons to stay engaged.
There is also a prize wheel at checkout that gives shoppers a chance to win a free book, and children seem to find this genuinely thrilling. One family reportedly won a free book on their very first visit, bringing their total haul to seven books in a single afternoon.
Indie Authors, Signed Copies, and a Community That Shows Up
Supporting independent authors is not just a side note at Kicks Mix. It is woven into the identity of the store in a way that feels genuine and ongoing.
There is a dedicated section of indie author books available at all times, and many of those copies are signed. Authors also set up at the store periodically for events, giving readers a chance to meet the people behind the books rather than just buying off a shelf.
This kind of direct connection between readers and writers is something large chain bookstores rarely offer, and it gives the store a community pulse that keeps regulars coming back even when they are not specifically shopping.
The rewards program adds another layer of engagement. Shoppers can sign up to earn points that translate into discounts on both new and used books, which turns casual visitors into loyal regulars over time.
For anyone who cares about the future of independent publishing, browsing the indie author section here feels like putting your money exactly where your values are, one signed paperback at a time.
Book Blind Dates and Creative Touches Throughout the Store
One of the most charming details at Kicks Mix is the book blind date display. Books are wrapped up so you cannot see the cover or title, and small handwritten clues hint at what is inside.
The concept is not new in the bookstore world, but the execution here stands out. Visitors have noted that the wrapping and clue-writing clearly come from someone who genuinely loves both books and crafting, and that personal touch makes the display feel special rather than gimmicky.
Beyond the blind dates, the store is full of small creative touches. Art made from books and paper appears throughout the space, and the decorations shift with the seasons and holidays.
The overall effect is a store that feels curated by people who care deeply about what they have built.
These details matter because they signal something about the ownership. This is not a store running on autopilot.
Every corner reflects a deliberate choice made by someone who wanted the experience to feel warm, playful, and worth remembering.
That level of care is increasingly rare, and it is a big part of what keeps the store’s reputation so strong.
Practical Tips for Planning Your Visit to Kicks Mix
Kicks Mix Bookstore is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 AM to 5:30 PM, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday until 7:30 PM.
Sunday hours run from noon to 4 PM, and Monday follows the same schedule as the weekday hours.
The store sits right on the Square in downtown Newark, which makes it easy to combine a visit with other errands or a meal nearby. Street parking is generally available around the Square, and the location is easy to find once you know to look for it.
If you have specific book needs, the staff can place orders for titles not currently in stock, so do not hesitate to ask. Following the store on social media is also worth doing, since they post about author events and seasonal promotions with enough notice to plan ahead.
One practical note for cat allergy sufferers: the two resident cats are active throughout the store, so keep that in mind before your visit. For everyone else, the cats are simply part of the experience, and a pretty delightful part at that.
You can reach the store at 740-345-9800 or visit kicksmixbooks.store for more information.