Local Independent Bookstores Find Success Through Community
by Erik Ofgang
Connecticut independent bookstores, like bookstores across the country, are surviving in the age of online ordering thanks in large part to one thing: community. Talk to owners of local bookstores, and you’ll hear that word again and again. Whether it’s connecting with readers who wander into the store or facilitating author events, bookstore owners and their staff pride themselves on fostering wide-ranging literary conversations. In the process, these stores become important parts of their towns, with many serving as essential downtown hubs. Here’s a closer look at some of the best in the area.
House of Books, |Kent
This stable of Main Street in downtown Kent was renovated a few years back, and the new space feels like an art gallery with books on display. It’s bright and open and facilitates the finding of new books. Also helpful in this regard are store manager Benjamin Rybeck and his staff, who are always happy to talk literature and/or offer suggestions on books. In addition to book clubs and traditional readings, House of Books recently launched a series called Salon at Swyft, which sees the store hosting a major author at the critically acclaimed nearby restaurant Swyft where cocktails and apps are also part of the festivities. House of Books shares a building and is connected to Wilson’s Bakery & Cafe by High Watch, so readers can grab a new book and then a coffee and pastry and sit down and read, or reverse things and grab a coffee and then find their next read.
Byrd’s Books, Bethel
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Byrd’s Books is not the largest bookstore, but its figurative footprint extends far beyond its brick-and-mortar dimensions. “We feel very strongly about having a presence wherever we’re asked,” says Alice Byrd Hutchinson, who opened Byrd’s in 2011. “Where the community has a tie-in with books, we like to be a part of that.” That means serving as the book vendor for author events at Bethel schools as well as places in neighboring towns such as Edmond Town Hall in Newtown and the Danbury Historical Society. Other recurring events include a book and movie club series where members read a book and then see the film version at Greenwoods Features — recent picks have included The Odyssey and Project Hail Mary. While Hutchinson says running a bookstore is not easy due to extremely thin margins on books, many people understand the role bookstores play in their communities and support them because they recognize they can be an important part of a vibrant downtown.
Hickory Stick Bookshop, Washington Depot
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Several times a week, Fran Keilty gets people coming into her bookstore and telling her how wonderful it is that she’s still open. “They have the mistaken idea that independent bookstores are failing and closing,” says Keilty, who owns Hickory Stick Bookshop with her husband Michael. In reality, independent bookstores are thriving, with more than 400 independent bookstores opening in the U.S. last year, according to the American Booksellers Association. Keilty’s bookstore has been thriving for more than 70 years (she’s owned it for the last 24) and continues to find success. Specialties include all kinds of fiction and nonfiction as well as a robust gardening section and many books devoted to the “Gilmore Girls,” the beloved TV show famously inspired by Washington Depot and the surrounding area. But Keilty says that beyond any specialty, visiting her bookstore is often all about the joy of browsing. “We hope that what we offer encourages the activity of walking around and discovering things that you may not have realized you were interested in.”
The Booksmiths Shoppe, Danbury
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Danbury’s only independent bookstore is hidden within the vast former Union Carbide building, a 1.2 million square-foot facility that was built in the 1980s, with a famously odd and futuristic design. Once inside, you’ll get the chance to enjoy a wide-ranging selection of both used and new books. “We don’t get much drive-by traffic, but we appeal to a broad range of people,” says Michelle Smith, the store’s owner, about how they thrive in today’s world. Smith also prides herself on supporting local authors, some of whom are self-published. “These authors do not get a chance to showcase their books in a bookstore, and we promote and sell on their behalf, as it’s part of our mission: community first.” She adds, “We have our own special thing happening here. Book shopping is a culture, and we put Danbury on the map for independent bookstores.”