Enjoy Books and Brews at These 3 Ohio Shops

Sandusky Book Bar
Janie Ahner turned a former YMCA into Sandusky Book Bar in late 2023. “We didn’t have anything that kind of combines beer, books, wine and coffee and all that good stuff in one space,” she says. The shop houses a few thousand curated used books, and the menu spans coffee drinks, teas and cocktails to pair with meat and cheese boards, bagels and baked goods. 2101 W. Perkins Ave., Sandusky 44870, 419/285-6543, sanduskybookbar.com

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Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in November 2024 but was most recently updated in September 2026 to incorporate changes to the visitor experience, including the closing of the Visible Voice Books’ Tremont location and opening of their larger space in Ohio City.

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Two Dollar Radio Headquarters 
Two Dollar Radio Headquarters began as an independent book publisher before owner Eric Obenauf turned the Columbus business into a restaurant and bookstore in 2017. ”We wanted to have a footprint in our community where people could gather to engage around books and literary culture,” he says. The shop almost exclusively features titles from indie publishers, and the 100-percent-vegan food menu is complemented by a lineup of cocktails. 1124 Parsons Ave., Columbus 43206, 614/725-1505, twodollarradiohq.com

Visible Voice Books 
Dave Ferrante opened Cleveland’s Visible Voice Books in 2007, eventually branching out to sell beer and wine. “A lot of bookstores make money selling puzzles or kids gifts … So, I thought, why don’t I get an alcohol permit and add that to complement the book selling,” he says. The store stocks around 40,000 new and used titles, and the drink menu spans wines, beers and an assortment of fountain drinks. 4601 Lorain Ave, Cleveland 44102, 216/961-0084,  visiblevoicebooks.com

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