The Babbling Book and the Dragon’s Nook bookstore on Main Street is changing ownership and names for the second time in the less than two years.

Jo Goerner, locally known as Jojo, will officially purchase the store from Darcee Messano in December. Its new name? The Moosterious Emporium. “I received the nickname of the Moostress my first summer here,” Goerner said. She invites anyone interested in hearing the long story to ask her about it when they come by the shop.

Goerner, who has been in and out of Haines for the past four years, has previously worked as a guide, an educational coordinator at the Haines Sheldon Museum, and a server at the Fireweed. She currently teaches music lessons at the bookstore, coaches the Haines Dolphins swim team, and hosts open mic at the Pioneer Bar every Friday evening.

“Ultimately, I found myself overextended in Haines by trying to provide a lot of little things for the community,” she said.

With the bookstore, Goerner said she can meet more people’s needs in one place, and be more efficient in her community engagement.

New ideas Goerner is brainstorming include community events like a “Sit and Sip” quiet reading night or painting and wine event, and a board game night for families.

In terms of stock, Goerner said the The Moosterious Emporium will add musical supplies to their shelves, and encourage local artists to showcase their wares, “anything from candles to calendars to cards,” she said.

Messano, who took over the bookstore in September 2017 from the 19-year owners Liz and Tom Heywood, said she’s looking forward to spending more time at home with her son while her husband finds work, potentially overseas. She will remain in Haines.

“I ended up being more of a placeholder and I’m really happy I was able to do that for the community,” Messano said. “Jojo came along and she is the perfect fit (with) her energy and her capabilities. It’s almost as if it was predestined and I’m just going along with it.”

Messano said she thinks her biggest contribution to the store was her re-decoration. “It’s nice when a store just completely redoes itself,” she said. “It’s as if (the customers) get to keep all of their old familiarity and comfort with the place, being the bookstore, but at the same time they get to walk in and go—‘Wow. A whole new experience in Haines.’”

Goerner’s biggest re-decoration plan is to construct a life-like tree under which she envisions kids can draw and play games while their parents shop.

Messano’s final contribution to the bookstore is a 1950s Wurlitzer piano, which will remain in the shop for music lessons, or for visitors to play.

First Friday on Dec. 7 will be the official unveiling of The Moosteriuous Emporium. The shop will host a game night with board games from Settlers of Catan to Goerner’s personal favorite, a card game called Munchkin. She’s hoping to have live music to show off the piano’s new home.

Goerner will also be building a website and a Facebook page for The Moosterious Emporium to post updates for locals and travelers.

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