New Bo Books turns the page with new name, owner

New Bo Books is starting a new chapter.

The store was sold earlier this year to Deb Witte and will reopen as the Next Page Bookstore on Friday.

The store's grand opening will take place on Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., giving customers the chance to browse the new selection of books and magazines. Free chocolate samples from the Marion Chocolate Shop also will be provided.

The shop, 1105 Third Street, was previously owned by Mary Ann Peters, wife of The Gazette Company's CEO Chuck Peters.

Witte said she is excited to open her store at this location because of the arts and education focus in the area.

'The discovery of books opened up a whole new world for me, and I want to share that through education and now through this bookstore,” she said.

The store will sell fiction, non-fiction, and children's literature. She hopes to provide a more personal service to her customers than they can get at a chain store.

'We are here to to get to know our customer base so that we know what they like,” said Witte.

This is not the first of Witte's business ventures - she has owned six businesses, including Domicile Decor, which sold new and used home items.

Witte has sold all of her other businesses and said that she is dedicating her full attention to the bookstore.