When Your Town Needs a Bookstore… Why Not Open One Yourself?

The author was attending a writers conference in Southampton when a missed phone call from Beth, a former colleague and neighbor from Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, changed the course of their lives.

Swarthmore is a small town with about 7,000 residents, including college students.

While it has a coffee shop, a pizza parlor, and a small grocery store, it lacks an independent bookstore.

Beth called while sitting in a café and noticed a building for sale across the main street.

She asked the author if Swarthmore needed a bookstore and if they should open one together.

The author agreed immediately, despite initial doubts about the town's size and feasibility.

Swarthmore’s median home value rose from $370,000 in 2000 to nearly $600,000 by 2022, raising questions about the town’s future affordability and character.