Big Apple Pizza in Fort Pierce is converting its outdoor patio into a dedicated reading room where children can pick up free books any time they visit. Owner Scott Van Duzer has operated a free book program inside the restaurant for years, but the collection has grown too large for the indoor space.
Van Duzer said the patio transformation addresses the space shortage while making books more accessible to young readers. Children can take home any book they want at no charge, whether their family stops in for pizza or just to browse the collection.
The program aims to encourage a lifelong love of reading and remove barriers to book access.
Van Duzer said his commitment to giving back stems from lessons he learned from his mother while growing up. He said she taught him that if he could give back, he should give back, and the restaurant lives that principle every day. Watching children get excited about discovering new books has been one of the most rewarding parts of the program.
Construction on the reading room is underway and is expected to be completed later this fall. Until then, children can continue picking up free books inside Big Apple Pizza at 2311 S 35th St in Fort Pierce, where every child remains welcome to take a book home.