Book Forge, Opening in Orange

The Book Forge Bookstore in Orange opens on January 1. The store will have new and used books, with a focus on fantasy, science fiction, and horror.

Are you making a New Year’s resolution to read more? If so, you’re in luck.

The Book Forge at 3 South Main St. has a grand opening scheduled for Jan. 1, and owner Tyler Hauth is putting the finishing touches on the roughly 2,000-square-foot space he purchased about 10 months ago.

“I thought it would be fun, because not many stores are open New Year’s Day,” he said this week. “So I figured, ‘Why not that day?’ It’s a little unorthodox.”

Hauth said he will carry at least 1,500 used books and at least the same number of new books from Ingram Content Group, which offers independent bookstore services.

“Something we have that other people don’t have — 1,300 vintage, out-of-print fantasy, science fiction and horror books,” he said. “Everybody’s really excited and helpful. I have people volunteering to come and help alphabetize — I have to alphabetize 1,300 books right now. I have people asking to buy gift cards even though we’re not even open.”

Hauth said The Book Forge will at first be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, to help him figure out a more permanent schedule when customers are most apt to stop by. He will be the store’s lone employee for the foreseeable future. The space was most recently the home to Tech 1 Computers, which has moved to Athol.

“We put in a brand-new ceiling. They had a drop ceiling in here,” Hauth said. “All new lights. All new floor. New paint. So, basically, [we] remodeled it.”