By Kimberly Gasuras
Bucyrus, OH—Crystal and Justin Bessler are gearing up for Independent Book Store Day on Saturday with a week of fun activities. From Silly Sock Day on Monday to Show us your G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Totes) on Friday, the couple is celebrating the week at both of their new locations.
In Bucyrus, the Birch Tree Bookery opened on Nov. 8, 2025, and is nestled on the west side of the Showplace building at 1810 E. Mansfield St. The Besslers recently re-opened their Marion store at a new location at 167 James Way, situated next door to Alpha Dental and across the street from Scioto Shoe Mart. The Bucyrus location marks the second chapter in the Besslers’ indie bookstore venture.
The couple began their journey into the world of bookselling when they opened their first bookstore in Marion in May of 2023. “We noticed the only used bookstore in Marion had closed during the pandemic and several area schools were shutting down their libraries,” said Justin. Their first store was an 800-square-foot storefront, and they outgrew it almost immediately, having underestimated the demand in the Marion area for a bookstore. They chose to open their second location in Bucyrus after becoming a bookstore hub in Marion for many readers from Crawford County. “We frequent Bucyrus often, and the community has always been so welcoming and willing to try something new,” Justin added.
The Besslers, who reside in Nevada, are the parents of six children. Justin, who holds undergraduate degrees in Writing and Computer Graphics, earned a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and a Master of Divinity. Crystal is a 2000 graduate of Ridgedale and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work. “I enjoy talking with our customers and helping them find the book they are looking for,” Crystal said.
The store offers in-store credit for used books, and customers can also find the store on Bookshop.org to order any time, night or day. “Those purchases will help to support the store too,” said Crystal. “And for those who like audiobooks, they can support our bookstore by signing up on Libro.fm under the Birch Tree Bookery”.
Both the Bucyrus and Marion locations will be open this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Everyone is invited to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day with giveaways, sales, and prizes, including 12 audiobooks from Libro!
“This Saturday is a day to raise awareness of individuals whose hard work, perseverance, and care for others is on display in the running of local bookstores,” said Justin. “Each one is as unique as the town it’s in and as the booksellers who work there. We’re very grateful to be a part of this family of indie stores”. He noted that Indie Bookstore Day celebrates that “third place” between home and work, especially curated for those who love books, interacting with authors, and building community with other readers. “There’s something magical about bookstores, and we hope that Birch Tree Bookery will be here for a long, long time as a valuable and essential part of the local literary community,” Justin said.
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