New Business Opens in Downtown Kennesaw

There is a new business in downtown Kennesaw.

Traders 22 Coffee Shop and Book Store is located at 2255 Lewis St. behind the Kennesaw Branch Library.

Owner Valerie Serra answered a few questions for Kennesaw Patch.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself.

A: This venture is run by myself and my husband Shawn. We've been married for almost 11 years. We have lived in Kennesaw since 2008. We relocated from Buffalo, NY. We have two boys, Stefen, 10, and Seth, 8. I was a stay-at-home mom for nine years until we opened Miss Priss Party Spa last year. It is right behind Traders 22. My husband (has worked) in media marketing for 14 years and that's what brought us to Georgia.  

Q: What led you to open your own business?

A: We've owned several successful businesses in the past and because of the current success of Miss Priss Party Spa in downtown Kennesaw, we decided to start ... the coffee shop and book store.

Q: Considering that major bookstores such as Borders have had to close their doors in the last year or so, what led you to go into this kind of business?

A: That's exactly the reason we went into this business. The days of big box book stores are fading. We believe smaller, community-based bookstores fulfill very a specific niche with consumers. Not only that, people still love the feel of a good book in their hands. But we are much more than just a bookstore. We are the spot in historic downtown Kennesaw where the real estate agent comes to meet her next client, the KSU student comes to study with some friends, the local high school drama club hangs out after rehearsals and where collectors come to find their next book or vintage piece for their collection. Traders 22 is the place where the generations before us come to swap stories of the good ol' days over a great cup of coffee.

Q: Why is downtown Kennesaw the perfect fit for Traders 22?

A: Because there is nothing else like it in historic downtown Kennesaw. 

Q: When did you officially open? When is the grand opening? What are the days and hours of operation?

A: We officially opened the week of Nov. 11. Our ribbon cutting ceremony will be around the first week of December. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Q: What has been the hardest part of getting your business off the ground?

A: Waiting on everyone else's schedules to get things going. Just a lot of hurry up and wait!