Let me tell you what it is like to own a used bookstore. It’s heaven. Heaven, I tell you.

Lord! When you sell a man a book you don’t sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue – you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night – there’s all heaven and earth n a book, a real book. – Christopher Morley, 1890-1957

A book collector has friends everywhere. The bookseller from whom you buy books is, more frequently than not, your friend. There is a bond between you that transcends the commercial transaction. For you’ve established ‘something’ (call it rapport) between you that is personal, almost spiritual if you will. He understands your interests and your needs and the compulsion which brings you to him. (And let it be freely admitted, his magnet is as compelling to the bibliophile as the bar is to the boozer.) The bookseller becomes inextricably identified with you, your library, your intellectually life. – William Targ, 1907-1999

This quote definitely reflects my attitude towards selling books: The bookseller who understands his business never shows any anxiety to sell his treasures; he acts as if it were a matter of perfect indifference to him whether he sells his books or not. His chief aim is to make his visitors feel at home in his shop, and having induced the customers to look at his wares, he leaves the books themselves to complete the transactions. – Robert M. Williamson, B. 1851.

I started using literary quotes on store signage because I was looking for a hook. For a way to set myself apart from other Main Street businesses in the area and more importantly, to show there was a new owner of the store. I used a child’s easel a neighbor was giving away and wrote short quotes on that and place it in front of the store on the patio. I didn’t want to say “Open”. I was looking for something catchy. I thought a quote would be unique. I used that easel until it rotted out. Moving the store to the MarbleWorks I was very excited to find the large blackboard outside next to the entrance. I now can write longer quotes!

I generally enjoy being in my shop. Amongst all the books, and knickknacks. Generally, because my ideal bookshop is organized to a fault. No clutter. No boxes in the way. Books standing tall on the shelves. Glass shelves. But! No matter how I try to get to what I feel is my expression of a used bookshop it doesn’t last. Not at all. What you see when you step in is how the shop wants to be. I’ve had to surrender to it, and I’ve finally have come to peace with it. Yes, I do get overwhelmed some days. Too many boxes. Not enough holes on the shelves to put books up. Stacks around my feet behind the desk. Those books are actually ready to be shelved. They are stacked in their genre, cleaned, priced, and alphabetized.

When each book sells, I am happy for the book to go to another home. I hope it’ll be appreciated as maybe the previous owner had. There have been books brought to the counter that I regret not reading when I had a chance. But really! There are so many books available to me I can surely allow one, two, or more pass me by. And if I’m meant to read it then it’ll return for me to devour at a later time.

In books, you’ll find what you are looking for.
In books is that which makes existence more.
Our hopes in life are often in an old bookstore.
– Hymn to Fourth Avenue, Eli Siegel