"Wear the old coat and buy the new book."

-- Austen Phelps


This quote sums up our philosophy on books and book buying. Early in our relationship a promise was exchanged not to spend our last $20 on books when milk and diapers might need to be bought, however all could be spent to that point without much need for explanation.


We have both been avid readers and collectors since our early years.


Jerry's parents will tell you he used to have dark circles under his eyes in the morning because he had been reading under the covers with a flashlight, and Sarah's parents can tell you how she and her brothers would sit in the car in the garage reading until the end of a chapter after a weekly trip to the local library. Our first date even involved a trip to Borders that lasted for hours.


When Jerry was given a Zouave Civil War regimental by Sarah for a wedding present, the inscription was on a card laid into the book. (As any avid booker knows, to have actually inscribed the book would have greatly lessened its value!) Our children have always been given books on special occasions as well, and sadly bibliomania is highly contagious.


"An ordinary man can...surround himself with two thousand books..and thenceforward have at least one place in the world in which it is possible to be happy."

-- Augustine Birrell


  ook Readers to Booksellers

Jerry had been co-owner in a previous Village Gate bookstore, DeSimone & Yount, but had closed the shop shortly before meeting Sarah. Many dates were spent cataloging and boxing the remaining inventory to be donated to a charitable bookshop.


However, there were a fair number of books "set aside for later" from that inventory. You never know when you're going to need some obscure 19th century literature on abolition, right?


Needless to say, our house has always overflowed with books. There were bookshelves in every room and one of our favorite pastimes on free weekends was to build more! Our children are on a first name basis with all the local used book dealers, and we have been scolded for turning them loose in the children's section at Barnes & Noble where they apparently caused quite a stir sitting at the table reading books!


We are proud that they know how to handle a book properly and like library day best at school.


"I cannot live without books."

-- Thomas Jefferson



ooks: A labor of love

In 2005 we finally had a use for "all those extra books" when we were inspired to open our online shop.


Part of the inspiration came from the untimely passing of a Rochester bookselling icon, Martha Kelly of Gutenberg Books, and part came from a desire for a change and self-employment. Who knew that Jerry missed being a bookseller for all these years? We purchased our first "large collection" when Gutenberg Books closed its doors in August 2005 and we bought the remaining stock. We still have the last book out of the shop set aside for inspiration and luck.


We soon discovered that an online shop is missing one vital component, walk in customers. With that need in mind, and a great leap of faith and finance we looked for a storefront.


We spent the month of June 2006 in a haze of sawdust and paint fumes but it all paid off. We opened our doors in the "new" shop on June 25, 2006 to the strains of The Baroque Chamber Trio and never looked back.


All is not books, peace and quiet though. We've both kept our full time jobs as a physician assistant and nurse, and are the parents of two busy children. Sarah has discovered to her dismay that the house doesn't clean itself any more than the laundry folds itself. The ultimate irony of owning a bookstore is not having any time to read! (or knit for that matter!)


We are open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday 11am-6pm, Thursday and Friday 11am-9pm and Sunday 1pm-5pm. We are closed on Mondays and from 2:15-3:30 every school day afternoon to pick our junior partners up from school. And we're going to be expanding our Wednesday and Saturday hours during the winter months.


We hope to see you in the shop!


"A book is a garden you can carry in your pocket."

-- Arabian Proverb