I grew up in small town Iowa where the only book store was located in our indoor mall because you can’t have an outdoor mall when the seasons are Winter, Polar Vortex, Hell’s front porch, and Mosquito Heaven. It was no bigger than a two or three Starbucks’ put together and had a very limited selection of books.

Despite its relative size, B. Dalton was a place I loved to go. Most teenagers would venture to Sam Goody, but I would rather get lost in the bookstore across the way.

But by the time I was a teenager with money of my own, B. Dalton had already closed. The only bookstore we had after their store became like so many others in the malls of the 90s was Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and the Christian Bookstore. (I did work there, but that’s a post for another time.)

After not the closure of B. Dalton nearly three decades prior, I was tickled and oddly felt butterflies when I read that a new store was opening downtown.

Enter: Three Bells Books.

There is something incredibly magical about watching your child walk through the door of a small, local bookstore and browse just like you did as a kid. The location may have changed, but the story is the same.

Three Bells Books takes you away from the flashy mega-stores and built-in Starbucks coffee with their inviting colorful couches, cozy fireplace, and limited book selection. They call themselves a community-focused indie bookstore and have a large section for local authors and stories of life in River City.

Each time my family goes back, we stop by to browse, and pick up at least one book, if not more. The most recent trip we walked out with a silly kid’s book and a surprise and unplanned find, Behind You Is The Sea.

Places like this in cities like Mason City are worth celebrating. They create a safe space to learn, explore, question, and be comforted.