For Trudy Barash, selling Canterbury Booksellers was a great opportunity, but it wasn’t easy.

“I have told stories in this castle for 14 years,” Barash said. “I figured that’s about 4,500 stories.”

The castle Barash is referring to is a painted room in the children’s section of the West Gorham Street bookstore. After spending years as the owner and children’s storyteller of Canterbury Booksellers, Barash is retiring.

Avol’s Bookstore now sits in Canterbury’s previous location.

Avol’s Bookstore, owned by Ron Czerwien, was previously located at 240 W. Gilman St.

“There was an article in the paper saying [Ron Czerwien] needed a space for 100,000 books,” Barash said. “I wanted to spend more time with my mother and my grandkids and another bookstore was ideal for this location.”

Czerwien lost his lease in mid-October when he learned the historic building, formerly the Woman’s Club of Madison, would be demolished.

Alicia Cramer-Carlson, owner of Dancing Grounds Coffee Lounge located inside of Avol’s Bookstore, said Barash was planning on retiring in two years. She retired early so Czerwien could have a new location for his 100,000 books, Cramer-Carlson noted.

Dancing Grounds Coffee Lounge replaces Ancora Coffee Roasters, the coffee shop previously inside of Canterbury Booksellers. This is the second Dancing Grounds to open in Madison. The first opened less than a year ago at 11 N. Allen St.

“We were approached by Trudy and Harvey Barash and with the offer they were giving us, combined with the location, we felt that we would regret it if we didn’t take it,” Cramer-Carlson said.

Cramer-Carlson said she feels Dancing Grounds Coffee Lounge will cater very well to the State Street crowd and University of Wisconsin students.

“Ancoras are all very similar, very sterile, very corporate, and very businessy. We did everything in our power to remove that feeling [from Dancing Grounds],” Cramer-Carlson said. “They didn’t really catch the State Street vibe in this space.”

Dancing Grounds Coffee Lounge has a full liquor license, serving beer, wine, mead and liquor drinks. Cramer-Carlson plans on having live music as well.

Nick Ainsworth, a client of Canterbury Booksellers for many years, said he enjoyed the grand opening of Dancing Grounds.

“It looks very nice,” Ainsworth said. “The coffee is great.”

In order to stay connected with the Madison scene, Dancing Grounds will feature a local artist each month. Phil Porter’s paintings are hanging from the walls of the coffee shop this month.

Following Avol’s Bookstore grand opening celebrations, Wisconsin historian Jack Holzhueter will speak Sept. 16 about the importance of Avol’s previous location.

The Woman’s Club building has a following of supporters who want to designate it as a Madison landmark and prevent it from being demolished.

Czerwien has such a large selection he turned rooms that were once office space for Canterbury Booksellers into retail space.

“You can get jewels here you can’t find anywhere else,” Barash said.