On April 10, 2026, Bethlehem’s newest bookstore, Semicolon Books, had its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The store also had an opening weekend celebration featuring in-store specials, giveaways, and complimentary coffee and tea with purchase. Located in the Main Street Commons, Semicolon Books is advertised as a “place to pause; a place to read.” The bookstore itself has a homely, restful aesthetic, with an eclectic variety of books, from classics and romance to novels by local authors.
The owners, Udval Yun and Charles Debski, moved to Bethlehem two years ago and were drawn by the city’s historical charm. The couple decided to open their own bookstore at the end of last year, noting how bookstores had always been a sanctuary for them.
“When we were both working in New York in our corporate jobs, we’ve always found books to be our safe haven and escape,” said Yun. “We wanted to create that environment for people, [one that’s] warm and welcoming with plenty of thoughtfully curated books.”
The couple also described creating a relaxing atmosphere with warm lighting and soothing music to make the space inviting. This also means integrating into the larger Bethlehem community and supporting local authors.
Debski stated, “We already had some local authors in our store, and we want to bring in other authors. They’ve already reached out to us to come here and do signings, promote their books, do some readings from their works, so we want to be there to support them.”
Since their business is still new, they intend to find their “status quo,” but hope to meet and eventually collaborate with local businesses.
When asked about future in-store events, Yun specified, “Right now, we want to figure out a pattern and a good event cycle for us, but we envision doing [events like] a children’s book reading and local author book signings.”
For their bookstore, the couple also remarked on adding their own personal touches to the space, including knick-knacks, stationery, and even a suggestion box for shoppers. “We welcome feedback and want to figure out what the community wants to see from us,” said Debski. “We’re coming into this with a very humble mindset to learn and improve and grow with the community.”
The bookstore is located between Moravian and Lehigh University, potentially drawing in students from both universities. Both Yun and Debski are recent graduates and hope to create a space that is welcoming for college students and all readers.
Semicolon Books is located on the lower level of the Mainstreet Commons, 559 Main Street, Suite 007, in Bethlehem, PA. Its hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.. You can follow them on Instagram, @semicolonbooks.pa.
