But the more time I spend around small businesses, the more I have come to realize that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work for everyone. The owner has gotta live with it, intimately, so the business better fit into his/her lifestyle and interests. As our nation advances toward completely homogenized status -- it seems you can find a strip of McDonalds-Walmart-RiteAid-Barnes & Noble-Home Depot-Kohl's-etc. wherever you might go -- I have come to realize that there is absolutely no fun in that particular model. And I have also found that the only real way to show your appreciation of out-of-the-box unique stores is to support such businesses with your dollars, on a frequent basis.
How else are we going to stand up to all the blandness and blahness?
So I try to do just that with the Book Garden, as much as possible. I have converted my kids to think it is a cool place too, because that's what you get to do when you have kids. Brainwash them, until they eventually rebel and refuse to read anything that isn't on a iPad.
The interior is very unprepossessing but amazing fun to poke around in if you are a cheapskate triviologist (OK, I made that last word up) like me. Secondo and I wandered in on Saturday and hit the mother-lode. I'll share the treasures I found tomorrow.
I love that store. What did you get? A few years ago, I found a compilation of articles that were written by students of the high school that I attended. But it was students that were there in the 1800s.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, proof that you live in a really great town. If I ever feel like I'm ready to make a sweater I'll come to you for a glass of wine, some seaming advice and a slow tour of town--this time to include the fiber and book shops!
ReplyDeleteWe probably shouldn't have that glass of wine before we start the seaming... and we'll have to invite Linda over to give us some guidance. But do come back for a tour of our great stores! The Book Garden is not-to-be-missed.
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