About Us
Jean and Kevin Kelly, the original owners, opened Hooked on Books in July, 1998. Jean brought her advertising background and skills to the store, and Kevin, with his long association with the Florida Keys, his fishing and boating knowledge. They started the store from scratch, and with their intense dedication developed a loyal community following. In June 2002, Kevin and Jean moved to the Clearwater area, in order to be closer to family.
Their good friends and retired educators, Penny and Jim Bower, took over the store and continued to develop the business. In February 2005, Cathy Keller, an original bookstore patron, fulfilled a long-time dream and became a full partner in the store.
From its humble beginnings, the bookstore has continued to grow and improve. Each of the owners has contributed to the growth of the store and to providing quality new and used books, as well as a growing collection of Florida and Florida Keys books by local authors, to the community. The launching of this web site is the latest step in the continuing progress of Hooked on Books.
We hope you enjoy your visit with us. If you have comments or suggestion, please don't hesitate to contact us.
