Long Island 54

speaker’s corner

CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW:

JENNIFER WOLF KAM AUTHOR OF THE CHILDREN’S

BOOK “DEVIN RHODES IS DEAD” (2014) CHARLES BRIDGE PUBLISHING, AT A DEBUT

READING AT THE BOOK REVUE IN HUNTINGTON; LEFT TO RIGHT: ROBERT AND

I ndie bookstores are on the rise! This might sound like the headline of yester- year. In a market where big bookstore chains have been tanking and closing stores nationwide, mom-and-pop shops on Long Island are thriving. The message: people still love real brick and mortar bookstores. These days, with Amazon a click away, the con- venience of owning Ebooks is greater. The biggest challenge bookstore owners face today has a lot to do with location and creating enough foot traffic in the store. In certain towns, this can lead to parking prob- lems and what owners call “showrooming,” where non-loyal browsers won’t commit and just take pho- tos of book covers to shop online. But, many people still enjoy the physical paper book and the personal- ized attention you get in a boutique book- store that’s a mainstay in the town. Community Independent bookstores offer a dreamy lure. Maybe it’s that big comfy couch or that one- stop shopping mecca where you can pick up knickknacks, hear an author read and sign books, grab a cup of coffee, or meet with like- minded readers. Indie bookstores are a home- away-from-home where an actual human being listens to you and helps select books on subjects that you’re interested in or authors you love. For Judith Mitzner, owning The Dolphin

RICHARD KLEIN, OWNERS OF THE BOOK REVUE IN HUNTINGTON; THE CHILDREN’S

SECTION OF THE BOOK REVUE IN HUNTINGTON; THE FIRST BOOK SIGNING AT THE

BOOK REVUE IN HUNTINGTON: ALAN DERSHOWITZ (SITTING) SIGNING “CHUTZPAH”

(1991) WITH OWNERS RICHARD AND ROBERT KLEIN.

MARCH FOR INDEPENDENTS! LONG ISLAND’S INDIE BOOKSTORES byMary EllenWalsh

Bookshop in Port Washington (www.thedolphinbookshop.com) fell into her lap two years ago. After battling breast cancer, she stepped up to buy The Dolphin where she had previously been a bookseller. “Owning a bookstore is kind of a dream that you don’t actually do. I’m very lucky,” says Mitzner. “The dream became reality.” In an idyllic location in a bustling town, The Dolphin Bookshop backs Manhasset Bay and offers more than just books. There’s a café for snacks and the children’s department sells books and accompaniment toys. There are many products including stationary, journals and candles. The Dol- phin has a long tradition of providing free music every Friday night from 7 to 9 PM. Mitzner says community outreach is also a big part of being an indie bookstore as well. The Dolphin Bookshop developed an author program with various school districts headed by Vivian Moy. “We bring authors in to visit classrooms across all counties fromQueens to Jericho as well as Port Washington,” says Moy. Sonia Arora, a PortWashington resident originally fromPhiladelphia, is an oral historian who enjoys storytelling activism, and teaches individuals and groups creative writing in various forms, from poetry to short fiction. Arora began teaching continuing education in Shreiber High School, branching off to form “Writers on the Sound.” The group holds meetings and readings at The Dolphin Bookstore, highlighting writers like Tracy King Sanchez. “Dolphin has been great in accommodating us and helping to promote

42 WESTONMAGAZINEGROUP.COM

Made with FlippingBook Annual report