-Submitted photo
Shay Fiddler, co-owner of Night Owl Books, stands in the doorway of the shop.
HUMBOLDT — A sense of belonging.
Craft beers, wine and the ancient ale of mead, Dungeons and Dragons and more role-playing games, and a great collection of book titles have created just such an atmosphere at Night Owl Books in Humboldt.
“We wanted to open a bookstore in a small town,” Shay Fiddler, who co-owns the business at 605 Sumner Ave. with her husband, Connor, said. “We love it here and have fit right into the community.”
“When we thought about what we wanted to do, the idea came up of having things that people might have to travel to get,” she added. “We taste craft beers all over the state and region as well as wine and mead. It’s different, but it does open our doors to different walks of people who may not meet up in their lives. That’s what we were looking for — bringing folks together and having somewhere for them to belong.”
She and her husband are quick to point out that this “isn’t a bar.”
-Submitted photo
Night Owl Books is located at 605 Sumner Ave. in Humboldt.
“We just think books and the drinking experience go hand-in-hand,” she said. “We don’t just cater to adults though, as we want a family opportunity. We’re doing a special drawing and tasting for Humboldt’s Fallabration celebration as an example of events we have planned.”
Fiddler added that they are planning a book club in October with romance and mystery genres that begins with “Pumpkin Spice Cafe” by Laurie Gilmore and “How to Solve Your Own Murder” by Kristen Perrin.
Board game nights with the aforementioned Dungeon and Dragons title and more are also being put on the calendar.
The original idea of Night Owl Books was arrived at quickly, according to Fiddler.
“Connor and I are both night owls with our reading and game playing interests,” she said. “From there, we used our past experiences with having lots of people together bonding over similar hobbies and then incorporating our love for craft beer, wine and mead.”
They’ve imported craft beer from as far away as Colorado, along with a company in Fargo, North Dakota, and around the Hawkeye State with Confluence, brewed in West Des Moines, being the main brand. Gellezig, a craft brewery in Newton, is a favorite, too. The wine and mead hail from the Van Wijk Vineyard outside of Sully.
“We found the wine and mead choices with a visit to the Sleepy Hollow Renaissance Faire,” Fiddler said. “We think that type of event goes hand-in-hand with our business model.”
A full line of non-alcoholic drinks, soda, and coffee are also on the menu.
Night Owl Books’ hours are noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. The store is closed on Mondays.
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