Bookstore owner David LeBreton confirmed Friday that he and his wife Ann will close the Main street Edgartown store this winter after 10 years in business.
“We want to move away from the bookselling business. It’s been a wonderful experience, and this just seemed like the right time,” Mr. LeBreton told the Gazette by telephone on Friday.
A For Rent sign went up in the window of Edgartown Books on Thursday; the LeBretons, who live in Dedham and Edgartown, own the building and intend to rent the space.
“We would love to see somebody sweep in and put a bookstore in there. It’s all set up for it,” Mr. LeBreton said.
He said store employees were informed this week.
The LeBretons opened the bookstore 10 years ago, beginning in the Yellow House on Main street. The following year they bought the building next to the Mini-Park and relocated the bookstore to the first floor space there, where it has been housed since.
The closing will leave only one bookstore on the Island — the Bunch of Grapes in Vineyard Haven. But Mr. LeBreton said he believes there is still room for two here, despite the effects independent booksellers are feeling from the giant Internet sellers like Amazon.
“For a bookstore on an Island like the Vineyard, to do 60 per cent of your business three months, I don’t think we are that badly affected,” he said. “Our Martha’s Vineyard bookstore core audience is still in place.”
This article appears in January 20, 2012.
Sad to hear this. For Kids and Young Adults there is Riley’s Reads in Vineyard Haven. They haven’t closed have they?
A bookstore has closed?
I’m shocked. Shocked!
What about the Book Den in OB?
Why not just close Edgartown and be done with it!! Sad to see another store closing
Perhaps the owner of “The Spirit of 76 ” bookstore in Marblehead , Mass would be interested in buying the store…”The Spirit is a great bookstore…The owner loves the Sea…” Sorry to hear the Edgartown store is closing…I have purchased many there ..
Sadly, Riley’s Reads closed also. Will be sad to see Edgartown Books go. My kids and I loved going there to look around and grab the latest and greatest page turner to read together at night!
The demise of a bookstore is always sad. Although I no longer live on the Island, I have called Edgartown Books to order books that are unique to the Vineyard, such as Anna Lowell Tomlinson’s stories about her cat Lucius. The people at the store were always friendly, and the books arrived promptly. I do hope that another entrepreneur will step in and take over the business.
sorry to see you go always loved walking into your book store it was a nice feeling good luck in what ever you do
Joe,
are you still on the vineyard? i haven’t been since my summer at your place and want desperately to return. do you have any suggestions?
This is sad news. The only bookstore in the world that motivated my now 18 year old son to read. He LOVES Edgartown books ad do I. We will be lost with out our nightly visit to browse for our next selection.