The Bookhouse Hotel celebrated its Grand Opening on Oct. 22 with a crowd of over 100 people eager to welcome the boutique hotel to the community. Owners Stephanie and Matt Olenik have spent the last year renovating the former book store, located at 130 S. Union Street, into a chic-niche hotel for bookworms and cozy-cravers alike. 

Although The Bookhouse Hotel is their first hotel, Stephanie and Matt have made a career out of real estate flipping and AirBNB management. Together with their business partners, Stephen Tallon and Bill Rookstool, the couple has completely renovated the building to welcome guests with four rooms. “Matt did all the work,” explained Stephanie. “We had to fix the foundation, level the floors, design and furnish each room.” “And I just do what she says,” said Matt chiming in. Stephanie laughed when asked how their relationship handles new projects, saying “It’s always stressful at the end of the project, but we always make it through.”

The inspiration for The Bookhouse was an easy choice. The former bookstore left behind 5,000 books in the basement, many of which are now used to decorate the rooms. Guests can cozy up in their rooms and read their weekends away with most necessities easily at hand. If you’re not able to finish your book, don’t worry - you can scan a QR code to purchase a copy from bookshop.org for home delivery. Each room has a private bathroom and kitchenette, and guests are supplied with teas from Mrs. Robinson’s Tea Shop and coffee from Horn & Hardart Coffee. Guests booking the entire hotel can also opt for a special Alice in Wonderland themed tea party, in partnership with Mrs. Robinson’s Tea Shop. A gift basket full of snacks and treats from Taste Local Eats, another Kennett Square business, can be purchased and ready on check in.  Longwood Gardens has also partnered with The Bookhouse to offer discounted tickets for guests.

The rooms can house two, three or four people depending on the suites, and two of those have a bi-level nook on the third floor looking out into town. The rooms are not currently themed by book or genre, but each room has its own charm thanks to a mix of antique and handmade pieces.

Community support has been positive, and Stephanie feels like Kennett Square has been welcoming to her new venture. Rooms can be booked online or by calling 610-444-1063. Visit their website at thebookhousehotel.com or their FaceBook page facebook.com/thebookhousehotel for more information.