Readers of Montclair, do you realize how lucky you are to live in a town that has not one, but two independent booksellers? And venerable ones at that? Two years ago, Montclair Book Center on Glenridge Ave. celebrated its 25th birthday, and this Saturday, Watchung Booksellers at 54 Fairfield St. in Montclair, turns 20. There are activities all day, starting with music for the kids at 10 a.m. and winding up with a champagne toast at 5 p.m.
The challenges of running an indie bookstore these days are formidable — ranging from competition of Amazon and the Kindle to the reported decline in book reading. But owner Margot Sage-EL counts herself lucky to be in a town of devoted readers — and an outsized number of authors too. As one of many scribes, I can tell you that Sage-EL is the author’s best friend. “If you can’t get some hoopla in your hometown,” she told me recently, “where you gonna get it?”
I sat down to interview her on Watchung Booksellers, her business and the future of books.
Happy birthday Watchung Booksellers! Margot and the rest of the staff are wonderful.
Holy mackerel, it’s been that long? That’s really something, Margot, congrats. I wish you many more. (Though the way things are going the next 20 are going to be harder than the last.)
Watchung Bookstores does everything right. Not only does it have a superb collection of books (especially fiction), but Margot promotes her titles without being overly aggressive (this is a good thing). I also love the weekly newsletter (via email) and the staff recommendations in the store.
I book and coordinate events (and media) all over the country for my publishing clients (one part of my business), and along with several other stores (Tattered Cover in Denver, Powells in Portland, Politics & Prose in DC, several great bookstores in SF, Vromans in Pasadena, Barbara’s Bookstores in Chicago, Harvard Bookstore and Brookline Paperback Booksmith in Boston, McNally Jackson and a couple of other Manhattan stores, among others), no one does it better (and sorry, but Montclair Book Center is just not a great store anymore. Plus, it has the worst staff ever). I don’t book events at Watchung Booksellers (my clients tend to need a very large venue) but I wish I could.
I do buy a lot of books at the store — often choosing to buy there, instead of Amazon, so I can do my small part in keeping this store in business. Although I loved the old location of the store too, this newer location is very pleasing and inviting.
Here’s to another 25 years!
Mazel Tov Margot, and Watchung Bookseller!
I used to frequent the Tattered Cover over 30 years ago when I lived on So.Adams St. I still have one of their bookmarks. Nice to know that they’re still there !
Love Watchung Booksellers — great go-to place for birthday gifts.
GREAT place! Even if they don’t have the book I want, they usually order it and I get it the next day! Now that’s service. Thanks for the article…reminds me that my son and I could use a few new book
Watchung Booksellers is the reason we moved to Montclair. Well, one of the reasons. Happy 20th, and congratulations!
Congratulations to Margot and her terrific staff at Montclair’s marvelous bookstore, Watchung Booksellers!
Your friends and admirers at [words] Bookstore in Maplewood