A former gym space on North High Street in Worthington now holds shelves of novels, a downstairs bar, and a lineup of themed book clubs. The Whispering Page, a new women-owned independent bookstore, opened its doors on September 3 at 661 N. High St., tucked between Vernacular and Old Bag of Nails Pub.
The shop, owned by Ashley and Devin McCoy—whom Columbus Underground calls sisters and 1808Delaware identifies as sisters-in-law—operates as a combined bookstore, cafe and bar spread across two levels. The idea for the shop took shape in 2025, according to 1808Delaware.
What's Inside the Two-Story Space
Downstairs holds a bar and cafe, while the upper level offers lounge seating and couches spread throughout the second floor, plus additional seating for browsing or working. The store also includes a dedicated children's section and a private event space called the Book Club Room, which accommodates 10 people, per the same account from Columbus Underground.
That gathering room feeds directly into the shop's programming. The Whispering Page hosts book bingo, themed book clubs, and dedicated fiction and mystery clubs, with regular events planned throughout the week, the outlet's report notes.
A Menu Built on Local Suppliers
The cafe and bar side of the business leans heavily on Central Ohio vendors. Florin Coffee, which began as an online roasting operation in North Linden in 2017 before opening its own cafe at the end of January 2020, according to Breakfast With Nick, roasts the beans served at The Whispering Page.
Baked goods come from two sources: Mrs. Goodman's, a bakery that has operated at 901 High Street in Worthington for more than 30 years as of 2019, according to Experience Worthington, and The Little Dot. On the alcohol side, Zaftig, Wolf's Ridge Brewing, and Aardvark Wine & Beer all supply beer and wine to the shop, per Columbus Underground's reporting.
THC Seltzers Enter a Shifting Legal Landscape
Perhaps the most novel addition to the bar menu is a THC beverage supplied by Appalachian Girls Cannabis Co., a Southeastern Ohio company founded by Joey Ellwood, Amy Garland, and Josh Crosier that crafts seltzers, according to a company video posted to YouTube.
Serving those drinks places The Whispering Page inside an evolving regulatory picture. In December 2025, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 56, imposing stricter rules on hemp-derived THC products and creating ongoing legal shifts for beverage producers and venues that serve Delta-9 drinks, as reported by WOUB Public Media.
A Historic Building Gets New Life
The storefront itself carries its own history. The building previously housed a gym. The adaptive reuse fits a pattern along High Street, where older commercial spaces continue finding new tenants.
The Whispering Page isn't the only new bookseller in the neighborhood. Celestielle, a specialty fantasy and romance bookstore, opened nearby at 677 High Street in May 2026, according to 1808Delaware's earlier reporting, suggesting rising local appetite for independent bookstores within blocks of each other.
A High-Profile Visit and a National Trend
The store's opening drew attention beyond the neighborhood. 614NOW noted that The Whispering Page is one of at least five independent bookstores to open in Central Ohio within a single year.
That local surge mirrors a national pattern. Independent bookstore membership expanded 19% in 2025, with 605 new store locations, pop-ups, and mobile bookselling businesses opening across the country, according to the American Booksellers Association. Independent bookstores have increasingly leaned into physical community spaces and curated experiences rather than competing with online retailers on price.
The Whispering Page is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The bookstore announced its opening to the community in an Instagram post ahead of the launch, per Columbus Underground's reporting by staff writer Ashley Kimmel, a full-time reporter for the outlet who covers restaurant and retail news and graduated from Ohio State University with a B.A. in journalism.
