Hunter Street Books Moves Into Meta4 Gallery, Forming Unique Partnership

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Hunter Street Books has announced they are closing their physical store but will remain virtually open for online orders and delivery—and have two shelves at Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery, just a stone’s throw away in the same building.

Indeed, starting June 1st, Meta4 will feature a shop-within-a-shop for in-person book browsing, creatively curated by Hunter Street Books owner Michelle Berry, and will become the place to pick up online orders.

It’s a clever pivot for Hunter Street Books to partner with Meta4 as they share many of the same customers interested in art and books. The collaboration is an elegant solution in terms of still having a bricks-and-mortar “pop-up” type space for Hunter Street Books.

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“I enjoyed the physical store for almost four years but with Covid-19 and a rent increase and my health, it was time to, as you say, pivot,” Berry tells PTBOCanada. “Most of my customers would order books in the store or online anyway, so changing to all online orders and free delivery felt right.”

“I can't imagine someone browsing books for a while, until Covid is under control, and I can't afford the rent, the staff, the utilities, the insurance, etc.,” Berry adds. “Customers are loving the free delivery and now they also have the option of picking up books at Meta4.”

The collaboration was a natural fit for Meta4 and Hunter Street Books, as people would come from Meta4’s art classes straight into her store all the time and vice versa. “When I can't deliver to someone's apartment, or care home, or if they are from out of town, now they have the option of picking up their online orders at Meta4—it’s a brilliant solution,” she adds. “I will miss sitting behind my desk at Hunter Street Books and welcoming customers but I won't miss the floor cleaning in winter!”

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You will be able to find a couple bookshelves of selections at Meta4 gallery now, as Berry is stocking them, and will be refreshing them constantly, with the selections of books from Hunter Street Books' stock.

Customers can still email her recommendations here and she’ll be happy to help them find the right book. All book orders can be done through Hunter Street Books’ web store here. There is free delivery to porches or open mailboxes in Peterborough during COVID-19, or pick up at META4 Art Gallery on Hunter Street West.

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