Friday 25 July 2008

New Direction for the Book Centre?

I popped into Broad Street Book Centre the other day - well, Islay popped in to see if she could wangle a biscuit out of Rose, and I followed her.
"Have you heard what Mary's done?" Rose asked, in tones that implied some un-nameable horror. "She's getting a man selling pet food in one of the units at the back!"
Mary came down herself just then, and confirmed the news. She's had a sign up in the window advertising units to let for a while now - "Wanted, Booksellers - be part of the secondhand book capital of the world" - but she's had no takers, and now another unit holder wants to leave. So when the pet food man asked if a unit was available, she said yes. He's going to go right at the back, which is kind of separate from the rest of the shop, and the books will move a bit forward as space is available. He's on the market on a Thursday at the moment, and he'll be moving in on 1st October. She's also had enquiries from a lady in Cardiff who sells vintage clothes - I think Rose would be happier selling those, but they haven't decided anything yet.
Of course, when Broad Street Book Centre opened as units, it was half and half books and antiques, and gradually the books took over, so the shop has always been adaptable.

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