The Book Haven is Lancaster's biggest and best antiquarian bookstore. It is owned and operated by Kinsey and Kelly Baker and is located in the Carriage House behind their home at 2022 Marietta Avenue, in the village of Rohrerstown, just 2 1/2 miles west of Lancaster (PA).
The store was founded in 1978 at 154 North Prince Street in downtown Lancaster with just 350 sq. feet and 2000 volumes. We continued to expand the business there until 1985, when we purchased a 3 story building 3 doors down at 146 North Prince Street. With more room and a large client base, we were able to expand to approx 75,000 volumes.
In 1999, we purchased our present home on Marietta Avenue and opened a second location in the Carriage House behind the main home. Appropriately, we named this second location Carriage House Books. Though this business was primarily an internet business, we did keep regular shop hours while maintaining the 146 N. Prince Street location. After 3 years of operating out of both locations, we decided to consolidate and sold the building downtown, moving the inventory to 2022 Marietta Avenue. We retained the name of The Book Haven for the consolidated business.
We are quite happy to have the business under one roof. We have 3 floors and over 100 categories. It is well lit and the shelves are well labeled and organized. Occasionally, one might find Bodie, our 10 year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever, greeting customers at the front door.