Shelton’s Written Words Bookstore needs help.
The independent bookstore — which opened in 2007 under the ownership of Dorothy Sim-Broder and her husband, David — has to find a new location by year’s end because its lease is up at the White Hills Shopping Center, 194 Leavenworth Road.
A sluggish economy and the advent of tablet computers and e‑readers has hurt business, so Sim-Broder launched a campaign to fund the move via the indiegogo fundraising website.
As of Wednesday night about $3,600 had been raised toward the store’s $10,000 goal. The fundraiser ends Friday. Click here to read comments from customers about the campaign.
Last week the Valley Indy stopped by the store to talk with Sim-Broder about the campaign.
Valley Independent Sentinel: So you’ve been here how long?
Dorothy Sim-Broder: “Close to five and a half years.”
VIS: And now you’re being squeezed out of the market by e‑readers?
DSB: “I think it’s unfair to point to any one reason. The real kicker was the economy and the e‑reader, it was really a double whammy at the same time. So we really got hit hard in ’09, and it kind of went downhill since.”
VIS: On the indiegogo site, it says you’re the only bookstore in Shelton?
DSB: “In Shelton, yes. There are more in the area.”
VIS: The used bookstore on Route 34 in Derby …
DSB: “Books by the Falls, yeah. And in Monroe there’s a used bookstore, and there’s a children’s bookstore.”
VIS: It’s weird, in Shelton it seems like there’s any store you could ever imagine.
DSB: “It’s a good sized town. I believe every good sized town or city should have a bookstore. Where else are the kids going to get their school books and stuff like that?
It’s not about me at all. The store belongs to the community. I always believe regardless of how much technology advances, there’s always going to be a place for physical books.”
VIS: A lot of people I know have iPads, and I’ve read books before on my iPhone …
DSB: “You read books on your iPhone? Seriously?”
VIS: Yeah but nothing compares to actually turning the pages, though, right? And the smell of ink and paper.
DSB: “People, when they walk in, say “I love the way it smells in here.” I found out there’s a difference between somebody who loves to read — they’ll read anything and everything, anywhere, they’ll read the back of a cereal box — but there’s a difference between somebody who loves to read and somebody who loves books. Somebody who loves books will always want a physical book.”
VIS: I sometimes talk to people who will say “I’m reading such-and-such a book,” but then you get in their car and they turn on the radio and it’s that book playing on CD. They’re not reading that, they’re listening to someone else read it!
DSB: “Part of the problem is I think our lives are just too hectic right now, as a whole. Everything’s fast fast fast, go go go, you’re trying to do 10 things at once.”
VIS: So going forward, you’re hoping to relocate? Is the lease up?
DSB: “Yes, our lease is expired, and I’m looking to downsize. In a perfect world we would like to stay in town. Our customer base is here. There is a need here. But obviously we’re also looking for somewhere where the rent is affordable, which is a challenge.”
VIS: Is there a date you have to be out?
DSB: “The end of the year. So basically, we stumbled across the indiegogo campaign service from an industry newsletter where a couple of booksellers had really great success with it.
The cool thing about indiegogo is it’s based on merit. It’s not like I’m going to go on there and ask for $500 to go get my nails painted. For that, my conscience is clear. I believe what I’m doing is good for the community. It’s not about me, it’s not about putting money in my pocket, it’s about sustaining a service in the community that’s so needed.
We do a lot of stuff that’s community-oriented. We have classes here, language classes, knitting classes, author signings, book discussions. We do a lot of stuff to bring people together. My customers can tell you this is basically a community gathering place. People have come in and made friends and moved on from there. It’s just an incredible, incredible feeling. It’s like “Cheers,” but better.”
VIS: So are you looking anywhere specific?
DSB: “We’ve looked everywhere. When you look at Shelton, there are only so many commercially zoned areas. The first thing that people think is Bridgeport Avenue. I cannot afford the rent on Bridgeport Avenue.
The next one is Huntington Center. There’s really no room left in Huntington Center. And then downtown. Downtown the rent is obviously much more reasonable, but there is no parking. There’s parking for a certain type of traffic, but for me, it’s trickier, because i have families that shop here, parents with carriages and stuff. I can’t have them crossing 110.
That’s part of my problem, I have a set of logistics I have to meet to make sense of the whole thing. I’m not trying to be picky, but if I’m here to service a customer I should take them into consideration. We did look at some areas downtown and so far we haven’t found an ideal location.
SO IF ANYONE IS READING THIS … (laughs)”
VIS: There’s still a few months until the end of the year, but crunch time is approaching. Are you optimistic?
DSB: “I’m not panicking, but my friends are for me. And they wonder why I can be so calm, and I don’t know, to be honest. I think whatever is going to happen is going to happen.
The good thing is come November and December we’ll be very busy here. So whatever is going to happen will probably need to be solidified by the end of October.
And apparently the flier has been forwarded far and wide. I do have landlords calling me from Ansonia, from Seymour offering me spaces. I did not say no, because beggars can’t be choosers, but since I do have a little bit of time to work with, I still want to look in town first if I can. My loyalty is here.”
VIS: So is your customer base, right?
DSB: “They’re here. And a lot of them come from Monroe. And a lot of Monroe folks don’t really venture out that far that way. So if you have a rich uncle, it’s time to call him.”
VIS: Oh I’d have called him a long time ago.
DSB: (laughs) “We have hope, though. Things will get better. I actually have people walking into the store and just handing me checks. They love the store and they want it to be around.”
