Jo and Huck Truesdell are avid book readers. Jo has a vast knowledge of children books as a previous elementary school teacher. Huck has always been interested in history books.

Now, as of its opening in March, the Truesdells took their love for books to a new level as owners of Tidepool BookShop, located at 372 Chandler Street in Worcester.

When the couple retired in 2017, they wanted to find what that “next step would be.” Jo was a kindergarten teacher for 41 years, and Huck worked in land conservation throughout his career.

“When we retired, at that time, the only independent book store in Worcester was Annie’s Bookstop,” Jo said. “So we thought and wondered if we’d be able to fill that gaping hole.”

Huck added that multiple independent bookstores had closed in the area within the past decade.

“We just gravitated toward it. There was a need,” Huck said. “There had been nothing. Nobody stepped up to fill the void.”

Jo said that the location also mattered to them. Worcester is a growing city, she said, and the population seeing the most growth is around the 20-30 year olds which they often are seeing as patrons of Tidepool BookShop.

“The dream was not to open a bookstore,” Jo said. “The dream was opening a bookstore in Worcester…Worcester is such a vital place.”

The two got in touch with the American Booksellers Association to learn more and took a bookstore bootcamp of sorts that was for people like the Turesdells who were interested in starting independent bookstores. The couple visited over 60 bookstores and learned more.

In the meantime, Bedlam Books as well as Root & Press opened in the area. The Truesdells though don’t see that as a negative.

“They’ve been incredibly supportive, so it’s worked out well,” Jo said. “The thing about bookstores is that the more independent bookstores there are, the more it sort of creates this culture of activities around them.” Huck added that the bookstores are all different from one another and have a different feel and clientele. Root & Press, for example, has a little cafe. Bedlam Books focuses on humanities and academic books.

And for Tidepool BookShop, which name comes from Jo’s brother’s Tidepool Press organization, those events are something that the Truesdells are looking forward to. Throughout the pandemic so far, they have been able to host authors on Zoom. People have been able to join from across the country even, Huck said.

“We’ve been tiptoeing into holding in-person events,” Huck said. “The Worcester County Poetry Association hosts a meeting here every couple of months.”

Jo said that their initial intent was to have something happening at the bookstore every Friday night. They plan to have this slowly phase in while the pandemic hopefully eases up. These can include museum curators coming and discussing an upcoming exhibit or a particular piece. Currently the bookstore has books on display connected to the Worcester Historical Museum’s “Pretty Powerful” exhibit.

“Just anything that might connect with things that are going on in Worcester that people might know or not know about, but it might inspire them to go,” Jo said, adding that musical groups could even give teases at the shop for upcoming shows.’

Jo said she also hopes to do events with Bedlam Books and Root & Press in the future, including celebrating the upcoming Independent Bookstore Day in the spring.

There have also been a few in person book launches at Tidepool BookShop. Carolinda Goodman, the author of “Once in a Full Moon ” presented her children’s book in October. Recently, George’s Coney Island Hot Dogs’ Kathryn Tsandikos hosted a book signing of her new “Two Up and a Bag of Chips! George’s Coney Island,” which tells her family’s stories and their iconic business within Worcester.

“That was great,” Huck said. “It’s a very popular book. It’s going to be under a lot of Christmas trees.”

The two have other predictions for what will be popular on people’s holiday wish lists as well.

“I have a feeling that Renegades is going to be a big book. That’s the Obama and Bruce Springsteen book,” Jo said. “I think that Baseball 100 (by Joe Pasnanski) will be a big book. Monopoly will be a big seller.”

Jo also said that for children, she thinks that Emily Hawkins’ Frozen Mountain: Decide Your Destiny with a Pop-out Fortune Spinner will be popular. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure-style book that allows kids to also learn about real-life survival techniques.

For those who aren’t sure what book to choose, the Truesdells are more than happy to suggest their favorites. There are also multiple book tags and descriptions throughout the shelves.

“All of the books have been pretty carefully curated,” Jo said. “We spend a lot of time on book buying and deciding what books to get. When people come in and they’re looking for a book, we’ll order books for people all of the time also…We’re trying to get a sense of what our community wants.”

While the two often have the New York Times bestselling books, they also often are looking for more unique pieces to include for their customers.

To learn more about TidePool BookShop and any upcoming events, go to https://www.tidepoolbookshop.com.