The "RB4RP" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Standing at the checkout-counter of the Cape Atlantic Book Company in Cape May, NJ talking with Tony and Patrick, owners of the store.  Tony is the son of Jerry and Just Sue, friends and long-time traveling companions of Carol and me.  It was back in 2011 that Tony worked for Atlantic Books which was on Washington Street  in Cape May.  In November of that year Atlantic Books closed the Cape May store as well as stores in many shore towns along the New Jersey coast leaving many towns without a book store.  With the advent and immense popularity of the e-readers, such as the Kindle and Nook, book stores across the country were closing due to lack of sales, but many people still enjoyed visiting book stores just to browse and possibly buy a hands-on book to read.  Both Carol and I have e-readers, but we still enjoy visits to book stores.  Luckily for residents of Cape May and nearby shore points, Tony, who is an avid reader, and friend Patrick decided to open a new bookstore.  They found a vacant spot on the second floor of the Washington Street Mall which was a candle store, but was now available, leased it, obtained some of the shelving from the closed Atlantic Book store and with the help of Tony's mom and dad, who live in State College, PA, prepared the store for their opening on Memorial Day of 2012.  Since that time they have expanded into another vacant store and have hopes of further expansion on the second floor of the Mall, which by the way features the only escalator in Cape May.  As of now they offer a variety of current titles, NY Times Best-Sellers, plenty of local Cape May and shore titles, paperbacks and a second-hand section.  As Carol and I stood talking with Tony and Patrick we noticed movement behind the counter.  Up popped a head that belonged to Chase, a three-year-old brown lab, a rescue who they got three days ago.  Got to be a great addition to the store!  Carol and I looked around the store, me at the fantastic local collection, while Carol grabbed a hardback and a paperback.  The store was busy with both browsers and buyers.  We paid for our purchases, talked some more and wished the owners well with their endeavor.  Cape May has a new business which by the looks of it is there for the long run.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - my story title is part of their advertising.  Means: Real Books for Real People.

Cape Atlantic Book Co. at the top of the escalator. 

Patrick and Tony, owners

Section showing the local books.

Showing part of the store.

New friend Chase!