Visible Voice Books to Relocate to Larger Space in Ohio City This November

Visible Voice Books, a Tremont mainstay since 2007, will be moving to a new, expanded storefront in Ohio City this November. Credit: AODK Architecture

When Dave Ferrante opened up Visible Voice Books in Tremont 18 years ago, he moved in with a belief that a bookstore, done well and sufficiently-stocked, would be a boon to a growing neighborhood.

“I felt that the area, for what I was doing, would be supportive,” Ferrante told The Plain Dealer in 2007. “It’s a more artistic area, and I felt it had people who would ‘get it’ and enjoy the store.”

This year, Ferrante’s making similar moves.

In November, Ferrante will be relocating Visible Voice Books to the western fringe of Ohio City, on a part of Lorain Avenue experiencing a renaissance comparable to what Tremont witnessed in the late aughts.

And the move is also to help the bookstore grow. Visible Voice’s new spot, a former theater at 4601 Lorain, will be spacious enough to accommodate a full café, three conference rooms for club meetings, 150 attendees for concerts or readings and a book selection “three times the size” of its current one.

In Tremont, “I’m on the second floor, at just 1,100 square feet,” Ferrante told Scene. “So, I thought, ‘Let me see what’s out there.’ I’ve always envisioned a larger operation—I’m going to go to 6,000 square feet.”

“I think it will be a win-win for everybody,” he added. “For me. For the store. For the city.”

Visible Voice’s new location will make use of a stage once used by the building’s old tenants, the Lorain Theater. A mezzanine level will overlook shelves of used and new books. Credit: AODK Architecture

Visible Voice’s move to a Lorain Avenue rehab comes along a trove of businesses helping to makeover the corridor, along with a refreshed streetscape in the coming years. Sartorial, a menswear store; The Judith Café; Cent’s Pizza, and others have already opened up shop with upcoming debuts including Noble Beast’s Biergarten and Soho Chicken + Whiskey’s new home.

It’s also close to Ferrante’s other ventures. The business owner opened up Proof, a barbecue eatery three blocks east, last year, and Guitar Riot, a music instrument and equipment store situated next door to the future bookstore space.

As for the store itself, Ferrante is eager to expand on all sectors. He’ll be hiring two new employees to run a café sporting a food menu—sandwiches, small plates, salads—designed by Melt founder Matt Fish. He’ll be booking local and national bands to play on a rehabbed stage in the back of the store.

And more books. Visible Voice’s backstock of 3,000 mostly used books will be displayed on a ground and mezzanine level.

The move will leave two-thirds of the building at 2258 Jefferson Ave. vacant come November. (Crust, the pizzeria downstairs, closed last Friday. Danny’s on Professor, a late-night bar, will stay open.) Which Ferrante said will soon bring a new asset to Tremont in a few months.

“There are a couple irons in the fire; it won’t stay empty too long,” he said about the building. “It’s not going to be left in any worse situation than when I bought it” in 2007.

Visible Voice is planning for a soft opening in its new location for Wednesday, November 12.