Family-owned bookstore opens in Tomball, aims to be gathering place

The Peddler’s Pack Book Co. is betting that Tomball readers want more than a quick transaction. The family-owned shop opened May 30 at 408 W. Main St. and is aiming to function as a community stop where families can browse books, pick up school titles and linger for events in Old Town Tomball.

Owner Jacky Schaaf said the store carries new and used books, used vinyl records, new and used children’s books, stationery, gift items and audiobooks. It also stocks required reading titles for local school districts, including most Tomball ISD titles, giving parents and students a local source as they prepare for the next school year. The business also has a Bookshop.org account for online orders, extending its reach to customers who want books shipped home.

Schaaf, who lives in Tomball, said she and her family chose the city because they wanted to be part of what makes it feel “cozy and memorable.” After 15 years working for electric utilities, she said the leap into books was a long-held dream, one that had once included ideas for a bookstore cafe or a mobile bookstore. Before opening, she said the store was still working through permitting to eventually offer coffee, tea and prepackaged snacks, a sign that the shop could grow into a fuller gathering space rather than remain only a retail counter.

That plan fits the setting. Tomball’s historic downtown depot is where Peck was renamed Tomball in ceremonies on Dec. 2, 1907, and Old Town Tomball remains a civic center built around unique shopping, eateries, festivals and live music. The Heart of Tomball Alliance says its mission is to support and promote the unique charm of Old Town Tomball, bringing together retailers, restaurants and residents. The Tomball Chamber says it works to provide resources and foster relationships that help businesses prosper in Tomball and surrounding communities.

Schaaf said the grand opening was an overwhelming success, and the store is planning weekly children’s story time, book clubs and author events. With its location in the Old Town corridor and its mix of practical school reading, gifts and community programming, The Peddler’s Pack is positioning itself as part of the small-business network that is shaping northwest Harris County’s growth one storefront at a time.