Meet Aria Griffey | Bookseller and Store Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aria Griffey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aria, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When we first started out, we had almost no work-life balance; our lives were definitely biased on the “work” side! David and I hadn’t gotten married yet and were still living with our families, so we spent every moment we could spare working on the bookstore. Before we opened our doors, I would get off work at my day job, drive to the store, and lay flooring for hours, regardless of the time of day or the fact that I’d just worked a full shift. Just before we opened the store, I quit my day job so I could be at the store full time, which was absolutely necessary, since it was just David and I doing this thing. We ate, slept, and breathed the bookstore and had little time for other aspects of our life.

Now that we’re married, living together, and have a baby (our sweet daughter Eleanor), things definitely look a little different. These added responsibilities of a home of our own and a child to care for mean that we have had to rethink our work-life balance and correct it for this new season of our lives. For me that meant working from home for a while while I recovered, letting our generous family members help out at the store while I cared for a newborn. Now, I’m back full time at the store, but we’re still to working hard figure out how to balance all aspects of our life and the changes that have happened since we started out.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are Griffeys’ Book Emporium, Delaware Ohio’s independent used bookstore. We offer a broad selection of secondhand books across all genres, as well as community events, book binding services, and more. We opened our doors in September 2022 after tons of hard work, planning, and shelving thousands of books! Since then, we’ve learned so much more, not only about business and bookselling, but about our local area, the folks who live here, and ourselves. Our greatest joy in this endeavor has been meeting new people and hearing their stories, helping them connect with good books, and learning more about the city we’ve lived in for most of our lives. Opening a bookstore is the hardest thing we’ve ever done, but it has been so, so worth it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many great places in Delaware, Ohio, including tons of restaurants, adorable shops, and more! You definitely want to eat dinner at Amato’s Pizza, slurp some noodles at Yokai Ramen, grab a sandwich and gelato at Ciao Café, get breakfast and coffee at Fresh Start Café and Bakery, and swing by Dairy Depot for some ice cream. And let’s not forget Scoreboard Pub and Grill, right next door to our shop, for great burgers, wings, and more while you watch the game! You should also be sure to visit Pat’s Endangered Species, the best record store ever (they have a store cat!), as well as our friends at GOAT Local and Honey & Abernathy for cute home goods, locally made items, and more! Make sure you catch a movie at the historic Strand Theatre and check out the local art at Gallery 22. Our friend Michelle has the best candles ever at Ampersand Candles and Oils! And be sure to check out Desi Tadka for some great authentic Indian food.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Definitely our families. David and I couldn’t have done this without them. We are very blessed that both my parents and David’s parents live very close by and are able to help with childcare, transportation, and even stand in for us at the store when we’re out running errands or life gets crazy. We are immensely thankful to the Griffey and Maher families for everything they have done for us in this endeavor.

Website: https://www.griffeysbookemporium.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griffeysbookemporium/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griffeysbookemporium/