Manhattan Beach Resident Creates Trading Post For Puzzle Lovers

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA —Puzzling has always been a creative way to pass the time and became especially popular during the pandemic. The idea to create a trading post for puzzle lovers was inspired by the popularity of the Little Free Library, a nonprofit organization that promotes neighborhood book exchanges throughout the country.

"We started doing puzzles during the lockdown," Manhattan Beach resident Donna Schotz told Patch. "Then we read about a puzzle trading post that was installed on the 1600 block of 2nd street, so we decided to check it out."

After taking several walks by the post, Schotz loved the idea so much that she decided to install one herself.

During spring break of this year, Schotz's son-in-law and grandson built the perch, and her granddaughter decorated it. A sign on the post reads, "Leave a puzzle; take a puzzle."

Everyone is welcome to stop by Schotz's "Puzzle House," which is located at 1314 8th Street. "I think this is a great way for the community to share a mutual interest, plus it's a wonderful diversion from what's going on in the world," Schotz said.

Schotz says there are currently ten different puzzles available and range in difficulty from kids' 100-piece to 1000-piece puzzles.