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 announced the expansion Wednesday as the restaurant's existing free book program outgrew its indoor space.
Van Duzer has kept shelves of free books inside the restaurant for years, inviting children to take one home at no cost. He said seeing kids light up when they discover a new book has been one of the most rewarding parts of the program. As more children have stopped by to pick up books, the collection has continued to grow and the restaurant has run out of space inside.
The new outdoor reading room will allow children to access books whether their families come in for pizza or simply stop by for a book. Van Duzer said the goal is to make books easy to access and help encourage a lifelong love of reading. He said the commitment to giving back comes from the example his mother set while he was growing up, adding that she told him to give back if he could.
Construction on the new 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. Van Duzer said every child is welcome to take a book home, no questions asked.