On the courthouse square in Athens, Alabama, nestled among the historic buildings facing the courthouse on the east, is a new book store with its feet firmly planted in the past.

Green Door Books is something of a throwback – a place where you're welcome to come and chat with the friendly staff, to take the load off in a comfy chair. It's a place you can step into and step out of the busy pace outside. It's a warm and relaxing place to stop and browse for minutes or hours. You can treat yourself to superb coffees and fresh-baked pastries from our own kitchen. And the books! Thousands and thousands of books line the ancient shelves in a cornucopia of topics. Our modest goal is to be the biggest, best, friendliest and most eclectic book store in North Alabama (and after that, the whole state).

Green Door Books didn't start in such a big place or a big way; we opened our doors almost by accident. A lifelong book Owners Ryan and Connie Waldron had begun seeking a place to put a large collection of books that Ryan had bought from a book dealer who was cutting back on his business. They located a place just one block off the square, and planned to store the books in there while Ryan sold the books online.

But one evening while talking, they decided that it would be fun to fulfill a lifelong dream of Ryan's and actually open a book store. At first they envisioned unlocking the front doors a couple of weekends a month and inviting people to come and browse the boxes. But soon they realized that it was more fun and excitement (and work) than they'd planned. And it quickly grew from a warehouse to a retail storefront.

The place was small, though, and drafty, and not really suitable to the kind of place Ryan and Connie wanted to make. So they began looking for a better location, something with a history of its own, warm and inviting and historic, a place to enjoy good books and good company.

It was about this time that the former Ben Jaffe building came up for sale. Ryan visited the place, and made up his mind the moment he walked in the front door and saw the original heart pine wood flooring. And it didn't take much convincing to bring Connie on board with the plan.

After a frantic 5 weeks of painting, rearranging, updating and polishing, not to mention moving and shelving 15,000 books, Green Door Books opened in its new home. And to complete the ambiance, Connie's sister and her husband moved their antique store, Heart & Hand Antiques, into the same building, sharing one side of an Athens landmark.

In addition to books, Connie and Ryan wanted a place that people would feel comfortable just spending time in. They wanted it to be inviting, to bespeak ease and comfort and warmth. And the response has been overwhelming so far. Hardly a day passes that someone doesn't tell us what a friendly and inviting atmosphere the building has. We'd like to claim credit for it all, but we believe that there's something of the ghost of the past in that atmosphere. From the landmark store run by Mr. Jaffe to the newest place to meet, talk, read, shop, sit and relax, Green Door Books has a little taste of the past.

Green Door Books sports a full-service coffee cafe', with fresh pastries, gourmet coffee brewed fresh all day, iced mochas, hot and iced teas, chai, fruit smoothies, and espresso-based drinks, all surrounded by so many books that it's hard to keep with them all. There are chairs and tables tucked throughout the store, and you're welcome to come for a minute or an hour and make yourself at home with us.