A passing comment in 2004 led to a 20-year career for Carla Ketner, and now the longtime business owner is stepping aside.
Ketner’s last day at Chapters Books and Gifts, located at the corner of Seward Street and Highway 15, was Jan. 10. The store’s new owner is Kelley Limback, who officially took the keys Jan. 3.
As she thought about selling the store, Ketner said, she didn’t want to sell it to just anyone.
“I wanted someone to maintain and bring their own ideas,” she said, adding that Limback was her first choice. “We respect and like each other.”
Limback said they have been open since the first day on agreements and disagreements.
“We disagree on books,” she said with a laugh. “We are very different people, but we have the same core values. I wouldn’t take it if Carla was not the one giving.”
She said the idea of being a business owner came with a little fear.
“If you’re not a little bit terrified, it’s not as fun,” she said. “It’s like an adventure.”
Limback shared a sense of gratitude for Ketner’s trust in her.
“I’m grateful she said yes,” Ketner said with a laugh. “The only way I could move on was knowing the store would be in good hands.”
Employees Katie Gabriel and Sherry Menze will stay on.
Genesis of Chapters
Ketner was at a bookstore in Nebraska City when a friend told her she should open a bookstore in Seward. Ketner initially said no.
“I didn’t want to work that hard,” she said with a laugh.
But the idea stayed in her head. At the time, the Seward Memorial Library had moved to its current building and the old library space was open. Ketner put in a bid for the building but did not purchase it. Vahl Drug also closed about the same time.
“It was the best location in town,” Ketner said.
She started pursuing it, developing a business plan and working through other details.
“At that time, I had so much invested,” she said. “Go ahead and try it.”
And so Chapters Books and Gifts was born.
Ketner had been staying at home with her then-young sons and teaching part time at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
She wanted the store to be a place where parents could buy presents for children. In addition to children’s books, she added a variety of toys.
“I’ve added other book-related items,” she said.
Another goal for Chapters was to make it “a community space where everyone feels welcome,” Ketner said.
She wanted to encourage literacy and enable reading, as well as build a community of authors and readers. Chapters has hosted writing groups, reading groups and story times. Ketner has worked with other downtown businesses to build the community.
In the beginning, though, it took time – not just to build the inventory but also for the space itself. Ketner took possession of the building in April 2004.
“It took awhile to build the inside,” Ketner said. “I had a lot of help from friends and family.”
Finding bookshelves was a challenge, but she found some in a bookstore in Washington, D.C., that was closing. A driver for Seward Motor Freight was coming back from there and agreed to transport the shelves, which had to be painted when they arrived.
When she considered toys for the store, she wanted to encourage an unplugged lifestyle.
“Nothing with batteries,” she said.
Store opens
The store officially opened in August 2004. Dr. Leah Serck made the first purchase, Ketner said.
She was concerned when Walmart opened its supercenter in 2006 that customers might go there instead. Amazon, ebooks and the recession also provided challenges.
“We’ve weathered a lot of different storms,” Ketner said. “But we’re more than just a place to buy books.”
During her 20 years at Chapters, Ketner has welcomed dozens of authors and thousands of customers. She worked with a lot of new authors and local writers, including Ted Kooser of Garland, who has been a staunch supporter of the store, she said.
In thinking about the books that have gone out the door, Ketner said Kooser’s have been the top sellers. “Local Wonders” sold the most, with “More Than a Local Wonder,” Ketner’s book, right behind.
“One of my favorite things has been getting to know Ted and Kathleen,” Ketner said.
One of Ketner’s first employees was Cheryl Kroeger, who joined her at the beginning. Kroeger’s Shoe Store had recently closed, and she was looking for something new. The two spoke at Pac ‘N’ Save, and Kroeger sent Ketner a hand-written letter listing her qualifications. Ketner asked Becky Vahle about her, and Vahle said she needed to hire Kroeger immediately.
“It was the best decision. She became a member of the family,” Ketner said.
Limback steps in
Kelley Limback first worked at Chapters about 10 years ago, and Ketner said she was good at what she did.
“It was the first thing I did in town,” Limback said. “I needed to do something. It was my dream job.”
She encouraged Ketner to build a presence on Pinterest and Facebook, which Ketner was not really interested in doing.
After a time, Limback started teaching as an adjunct professor at Concordia University and then taught at Seward High for six years.
“I was sad when she left to go teach,” Ketner said with a smile.
The two had the same priorities and values, Ketner said. When she started thinking about selling the store, Limback was her first choice.
“As a teacher, she’s used to making a thousand decisions every day,” Ketner said. “She’s capable of the behind-the-scenes stuff. I’m confident she can handle it.”
The discussion started when the Ketners and Limbacks met each other one night at Walmart. Ketner jokingly said if she were to ever sell the store, it would be to Limback.
“After that, our husbands both said ‘we think that was real,’” Limback said.
A couple years later, Ketner started thinking about a change in earnest. She said she worked on the idea for a least 18 months.
Chapters stays
Limback said the store will continue to provide books for all levels. She said people who aren’t readers now just haven’t found the right book.
“That is a goal, too,” she said. “I want people to connect with the written word in all forms. Until you can read, you can’t write. The more words you have, the more powerful your thoughts are.”
She said taking over from Ketner was an easy transition.
“All the little things were here,” she said.
She is looking forward to having Ketner as a mentor as she moves forward.
“I love the community space,” Limback said. “I love hosting events.”
Limback plans to continue to provide a place for people to unplug.
“I want to create an environment for people and adjust to what people need,” she said.
One suggestion was the addition of a men’s group, and Limback plans to bring back story time and summer programming. She will continue to host authors and work with Alison Koch at Red Path Gallery on bigger events.
“We want to keep the downtown relevant and vibrant,” she said.
Limback said her family is excited about the step.
“They think it is a good fit,” she said.
Next for Ketner
Ketner said she planned to take a week “to hibernate” and then has a list of other projects she’s been putting off. She said she wants to write more, but first she plans to do more promotion for her own book, “More Than a Local Wonder,” a picture book biography of Kooser.
“I want to read and promote my book in schools and libraries,” she said.
The book has won the Nebraska Book Award, the Midwest Independent Publishers Award and a Patterson Prize and was a finalist for other awards, as well.
“I will miss it,” Ketner said.
Not only is Ketner stepping down, Fabio is, too. Fabio is a dog who spent a lot of time at the store, as did his predecessor Jane.
“He will miss coming to work every day,” Ketner said.
She said her family will miss it, too.
“JB (her husband) has been my biggest cheerleader,” she said, adding that he is not retiring from his position at Memorial Health Care Systems.