From Tool Box to Book Nook

The Transformation of an Old Tool Chest into a Traveling Shop

If you venture out to a local craft fair this summer, you might spot a different sort of booth rolling in. With mint green paint and vibrant flowers adorning the sides, it’s hard to miss Paige’s Bookshop. Since its beginnings in summer 2024, this mobile used bookshop has been rolling its way into readers’ hearts. From its bones as an old tool chest, Paige Hauser has been transforming it into a mini haven for local readers, both eye-catching and sustainable.

“Paige's... yes, like a book,” reads her tagline, harkening back to some rather ‘innovative’ childhood teasing. Paige, who works in immigration law, says the idea for a book trailer “Just came to [her] one day” after a rough summer dealing with her mental health and postpartum depression. While scrolling Pinterest one day, she saw someone had converted a horse trailer into a walk-in bookshop, and she thought to herself, “I can do that.”

Though a horse trailer proved too expensive, she stumbled upon an old tool trailer online that would more than fit the bill, and she even went so far as to create a pitch for her husband in the same vein as the show Shark Tank. It didn’t take long for him to agree, and Paige’s Bookshop was in the works and a creative outlet was born, with a personal touch.

“The book trailer has been more than just a fun project, but a way to get a piece of myself back during the thick of motherhood,” Paige says. “I suffered from postpartum depression (PPD) after the birth of both of my kids. I felt like I lost so much about myself that made me ‘me,’ like reading.” As with flamingos, whose mothers lose their pink while raising their young due to the demands of care, she says this project has helped her ‘get her pink back’ while she recovers and balances working full-time with motherhood. “I think PPD is an important topic that needs to be discussed more. I hope that there is another mom out there who sees this and realizes they are not alone in this season.”

As for the physical trailer itself, the renovation process was a labor of love and a way to make it her own. It needed a lot of TLC — the biggest hurdle was sanding, painting, and reworking the lights to make it roadworthy. Her husband, Sam, handled much of the hands-on work alongside her, while their oldest took on the crucial role of handing him tools. Paige, who has two kids, says the trailer project became a true family affair. The logo design came from her brother, who, she says, “nailed it on the first try” — even if he did have to add an extra flower (but we won’t tell him that).

“There were moments when I wondered if this was actually going to work and if my vision was going to happen, but once that first coat of the mint color was on, I could see it — and it was exactly what I pictured in my head.”

From its inception in August 2024 to her first event in September at the Helping Hounds Dog Rescue in Syracuse, the entire process took less time than she had anticipated. The first event she attended was also near and dear to her heart, as Helping Hounds is where she and her husband adopted both of their dogs, Luke, a lab mix, and Todd, a collie mix. A pop up at Luigis Coffee in East Rochester was the next outdoor event on her list, and she also took part in this year’s Book Lovers Bliss Book Fair at Artisan Works.

As for the plethora of books she tows around, the genres she offers tend to stick with what’s more popular or current trends, such as romantasy and fantasy. She also includes genres and levels fit for kids and middle grade so there’s something for everyone, though she tends to lean more toward adult. The books themselves come from a variety of places, whether from her own shelves, friends, family, Facebook marketplace, library sales, or garage sales. As they are all used, the books are cheaper and more sustainable while still being in good condition—paperbacks are $5 and hardcovers go for $8 with mystery bundles averaging between $10-$12.

Aside from her trailer, Paige’s latest craft endeavor has been adding flowers to display while the trailer is open at events. “I purchased a couple pool noodles from the dollar store and a bunch of crafting flowers from Joann’s to create the flower arch. I love working on this project. My mom and sister took my kids for a few hours on a Sunday, and I sat outside in the sun with an audiobook and went to work on it until my fingers hurt. I am so happy with how it is turning out!”

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Keep an eye out for Paige’s Bookshop at an event near you! Find her at New York Kitchen in Canandaigua on July 18th and at the East Rochester Farmers Market select weekends (watch social media). She can also be spotted via RocOnlyEvents at other pop ups around Rochester!

follow along @paiges_bookshop