Local business owners and FSU alumni, Beth and Todd Merrick, recently took a well-deserved break from their bustling lives at Sunshine Book Co., 647 Lake Ave, Clermont, to embark on a journey that combined their love for football and culture. When the FSU vs. Georgia Tech football game was scheduled to take place in Ireland, the Merricks knew they had to go—in the name of team spirit.

Beth Merrick shared her excitement, saying, “Our journey in Ireland has been amazing! We loved seeing many American football fans while taking in the Irish culture. The people here have been so nice and welcoming!”

The Merricks stayed in a charming AirBnB, immersing themselves in the local atmosphere. While the highlight of their trip was undoubtedly the FSU vs. Georgia Tech football game, the couple also made time for sightseeing, exploring major landmarks such as Dublin Castle, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College, and the Book of Kells experience. They marveled at the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, ventured to Galway, and enjoyed the iconic Guinness and Jameson tours.

No trip to Ireland would be complete without experiencing the local pubs, where they enjoyed traditional Irish fare and drinks.

As avid book lovers and owners of Sunshine Book Co. in Clermont, Beth and Todd took the opportunity to visit the Literary Museum and several bookshops during their stay. Always looking for inspiration to enhance their beloved bookstore, they gathered ideas from these quaint Irish shops to bring back to Florida.

Sunshine Book Co., located in downtown Clermont, is a true gem, offering everything from new releases and bestsellers to classics, children’s books, and teen fiction. Visit the shop and see if you can sense a wee bit of Ireland, brought back from the Emerald Isle by Beth and Todd. To learn more about their bookstore, go to website: sunshinebookco.com

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A character meet-n-greet, a dress-up contest, and an author meet n greet/book signing will be enjoyed as well as tables on new and used books, prizes and giveaways.

Hope to see you there.

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Sunshine Book Co. recently opened at 647 Lake Avenue in Downtown Clermont, across from the Clermont City Center. The new book store celebrated its grand opening with the support of family, friends, local business owners, and residents. The South Lake Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Team hosted the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Beth & Todd Merrick: Beth is a native Floridian, having grown up in Central Florida. She has lived in Clermont for 18 years and worked as a concierge and in customer relations for over 27 years with Disney. Co-owner and husband Todd worked at Disney, while he also owned and operated a local comic book store for 8 years. She is a member of a popular local book club, Reading Between the Wines. It will be a family business with their children helping.

Spreading Sunshine! The couple plan to provide a very wide and diverse selection of books, from classics and bestsellers to new releases, including plenty of children’s books. They will feature several local authors who will offer their books at the store while sharing book readings and author signing events.

They have plans for several special events per month with book tie-ins. Beth Merrick adds, “We look forward to celebrating a number of exciting major literary events throughout the year. We are also excited to support local businesses by carrying a variety of gift items from several local partners including bakery items, seasonal gifts, cards, stationery and locally themed products.  We’ve used teamwork with local companies for everything from our security system to the shelving and signage. We will also offer many literary related products from stickers to candles, jewelry, fun wardrobe, tote bags and soaps to socks, and more.” Bookworms who prefer audiobooks will be able to download from them. Book fans who are not local can still purchase from their website and they will ship directly to you. Beth adds, “If we don’t have the book you are looking for, we can find and order pretty much anything. If your book club wants to meet, let us know. Come on in, grab a book, a chair and hang out with us!”

Upcoming Book Lover Events: In April, the couple plan to celebrate National Poetry Month, Independent Bookstore Day on April 24 and they will participate in Corelli’s Downtown Clermont Wine Stroll on April 17.

In May, they will have events for Children’s Book Week May 3 to 7 while being open for Clermont’s First Friday event on May 7. They have plans to celebrate Star Wars Day on May 4, National Reading is Fun Week May 10 to 14, and they will have an author event with Scott Vedder on May 16.

For more information on the Sunshine Book Co., visit 647 Lake Avenue, Clermont FL 34711 or phone: 352-404-6077. You can email Beth Merrick at SunshineBookCompany@GMail.com. They will be open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 AM to 6 PM. Visit their website to follow their Events Calendar at: www.sunshineBookCo.com/. Follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/sunshinebookco.

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