Bookstore Marks Opening With Novel Debut
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No, it's not Halloween. The creatures of the night are expected to help launch the grand opening of the downtown's newest business — Chapters Bookstore Inc.
The store will celebrate its opening in the wee hours of Saturday morning to mark the debut of the eagerly awaited fourth and final installment in Stephenie Meyers' "Twilight" series, "Breaking Dawn."
The proprietors of Chapters, Aimee McLear and Kelly Wright, are looking to provide personalized service to patrons of the independent bookstore while still offering the variety and convenience of the big chains.
"Chapters wants to be your local bookstore and can get you books as fast as big retailers like Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble," said Wright in a phone interview Friday.
The newly renovated store, located at 78 North St., features 2,000-square-feet of selling space and 600-square-foot event space. It's been open for short time but tonight's event, beginning at 11 p.m. (the book goes on sale at midnight) marks its official unveiling. The best-dressed vampires get a chance for a $20 gift certificate; the book will be on sale for 40 percent off.
The grand opening will continue Saturday with storytelling at 10 a.m., and clowns, face painting, balloon animals and DJ Chuck Wright from WTBR-FM. The store will be noon to 6 on Sunday for the Pittsfield Ethnic Fair. Different books will be on sale throughout the weekend.
"We decided to open our store in Pittsfield because we have a great deal of pride as members of the Berkshire region and wanted to be an active part of our community," said Wright.
Work on the store had barely begun when Gov. Deval Patrick stopped by earlier in the spring to give words of encouragement. At the time, Mayor James M. Ruberto said it's opening was a sign of North Street's revitalization.
"Once an independent bookstore feels there's a true market opportunity," said Ruberto during the stop, "you know that Pittsfield's downtown is really becoming a downtown that will be successful."
Chapters currently offers 9,000 titles with an expectation of holding up 20,000 at maximum capacity. The store features new books of all genres and magazines as well as book-related items. The shop will also research titles and authors, and will the ability to get books not in stock within one to two days.
"We want people to think of us as a full-service bookstore that offers titles from every genre and the ability to get any books we don't have on hand," said Wright.
At the same time, Wright said she didn't see the bookstore as in direct competition with chain store Barnes & Noble, which has a store in Berkshire Crossings. "We have our own niche as a smaller store that caters to people who want to avoid the hustle and bustle of larger book retailers but with the same level of quality," she said.
The event space will be used as a reception area for visiting authors, a gallery for local artists and staging point for local events. "We plan to have at least one live night a week among other events," said Wright.
The two women have worked together for years. McLear, 26, of Cheshire, has eight years experience in the book business and Wright, 37, of Pittsfield, has 10 years experience in the same profession. Both worked together at the former Waldenbooks at the Berkshire Mall as managers and at a Borders Bookstore outlet in Lee, all the while discussing the idea of opening their own store.
Chapters has four employees with the intention of hiring more as the store expands.
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, call 413-443-2665 or Chaptersinc@yahoo.com.
