Kirkby Stephen’s bustling town centre has two newly opened shops.
Kaitlyn Lancaster, aged 17, has opened a bookshop in Kirkby Stephen’s Walton Yard called Throne of Books, while the Eden Animal Rescue charity also now has a presence in the town.
Kaitlyn’s bookshop is named after her favourite fantasy book series, Throne of Glass, by American author Sarah J. Maas, which can be found in the young adult section which has pride of place in the shop.
“That’s my section,” said Kaitlyn, but credit for calling the shop Throne of Books has to go to her brother, William, who came up with the name.
Also stocked in the shop is a great range of books for both children and adults.
Having opened on the day of the Christmas lights switch-on at the end of November, Kaitlyn said: “It has been really good. A lot better than I expected.
“People still definitely want to buy books. I know Kindles have come into fashion, but like my sister (Dani Henshaw) says, she loves the smell of books,” said Kaitlyn.
The store, which overlooks the Market Square, was formerly part of the Age Concern charity shop.
Kaitlyn, who is the daughter of Sandy and Ian Lancaster, attended Kirkby Stephen Primary School and the town’s grammar school before deciding to take the plunge and open the bookshop.
“I wanted to open my own business and do something for me that I enjoy,” said Kaitlyn, who is also studying for a Level Two qualification in food as part of her other job where she works at the town’s Taggy Man pub.
Of her entrepreneurial spirit, Kaitlyn said: “I think it has definitely come from my mum, she has always had her own businesses.”
And she is not far away, as her mum runs Sandy’s in Walton’s Yard, which was previously called Stitched Up in Eden, where she sells sweets and ice cream as well as doing embroidery.
In addition, next door to her mum is her sister, Dani, who runs a sign writing and banner printing business.
Kaitlyn said both her parents had been really supportive. “As soon as I came up with the idea (for the bookshop), they said, it sounds great,” she said.
Eden Animal Rescue Kirkby Stephen shop manager Gill Jacobs said their opening day, which also coincided with the town’s Christmas lights switch-on, was really busy and that had continued, with people eager to see what they have to offer.
“We have had wonderful support, and donations are pouring in, which is lovely,” said Gill.
The shop sells clothing for men, women and children and it also has books, DVDs, childrens’ toys and Christmas decorations, plus it has a number of Christmas party dresses. “We also sell a lot of pre-loved stuff for dogs and we have always got a shelf full of dog beds,” said Gill, who was previously manager of the Eden Animal Rescue shop in Penrith.
Gill, who oversaw the opening of the shop in Devonshire Street, Penrith, two years ago, said Kirkby Stephen was chosen to house the charity’s latest store because one of the trustees always wanted to open one in the town.
“There are only two other charity shops in town and it really is quite a busy place. It’s quite vibrant and there are not many closed or empty shops,” said Gill, who lives at Murton.
“You get everybody passing by, from holidaymakers to those on bus trips who get dropped off to have a little wander round — a variety of people,” she said.
The shop, which previously housed Eden Outdoors, has three volunteers plus Gill, who has rescued dogs for 40 years and at present has a German Shepherd called Rags from Eden Animal Rescue.
The shop is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 10am to 4pm.
