Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy: The "The Demise Of The Local Bookstore: Part I

It was an ordinary day. Carol and I were walking down Washington Street in Cape May, NJ showing our daughter Brynn some of the really neat stores on the two block promenade.

One of our favorite purchases in Cape May, NJ.

Carol and I have made many purchases on Washington Street in past years from a hand-painted wooden bench that features an old-time photographer taking a photograph of a bathing beauty who has changed in the canvas beach tent behind her to half a dozen fused glass sun-catchers that dot our kitchen window. The two block long shopping mega has restaurants, clothing stores, novelty shops, brand-name shoe stores and one book store. Matter-of-fact, the book store is one of a very few that still exists along the Jersey Shore. The Cape Atlantic Book Company was founded in 2012 by our friends Jere and Sue's oldest son Tony and his friend Patrick. They are located on the second floor of Center City Mall on Washington Street. Neat place that has thousands of books as well as puzzles and games. Shelf after shelf of books of all genres. We introduced Brynn to Patrick and then purchased a book from the store. Carol still loves to hold a book in her hands while reading while I enjoy the benefits of my Kindle in being allowed to choose the size of type to read. During vacations Carol will average a book every two days thus making our suitcases heavier with books. Tony and Patrick recently experienced a tragedy when a pipe burst on the floor above the store a few months ago. The ceiling, walls and rugs all had to be replaced and the displays and books were all destroyed. Such a shame and made for many anxious moments, but the store re-opened in the Spring and looks better than ever. Thank goodness for a good insurance policy. I can remember when every coastal town had one or more book stores. Fun to explore the stores for a good read or a puzzle to share with the family during vacation. But, online readers became popular and forced many stores to close in the past few years. We explored the Ocean City, NJ boardwalk and couldn't find a bookstore, but did find a very small bookstore on the second floor of a shop in Stone Harbor, NJ. Will it ever be the same again. Tomorrow I will share with you the story of the very first bookstore in the world as well as the first bookstore in the Continental United States. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.