Independent and Out to Sea - Bookworks
by Sarah Teach
“Visionary” is the word that keeps popping into my head as I sit in a comfy corner of The Bean with Wendy Morton Hudson. Emanating with a sunny liveliness, Hudson is the owner of Bookworks, the irresistible little bookshop at 25 Broad Street. Nestled comfortably between The Brotherhood and the Jared Coffin House, Bookworks certainly holds it own within the nook it encompasses. But it somehow maintains a feeling of solitude; an aura of ethereal mystery tucked into its downtown corner. Every time I have dropped into the shop for “just a quick peek,” I am mesmerized into staying longer than planned. Bookworks is the siren to my sailor.
This is a bookshop centered on adventure; patrons are warmly welcomed upon entering, then released into their own worlds of discovery. “There are fresh surprises every day; we get new items all year long!” exclaims Hudson with a brilliant smile that is just as enchanting as the bookshop itself. From wacky Zack Galifinakis comics for coffee table reading to beautifully bound Shakespeare for epically stocked library shelves, Bookworks boasts the most gratifying array of books. But don’t let the store’s name deceive you; the bounty of Bookworks reaches more deeply than the books themselves. The eclectic assortment of material found in this shop provides something for literally everyone; from toddlers to teens and jewelry art lovers to lovers of the very darkest chocolate. (Did you know that bars of 99% cocoa even existed? Bookworks gets its antioxidants from a fair trade company, and you can too, just by enjoying a chocolate bar! Hey, somebody has to support fair trade, right?) My writer spouse is extremely choosey when it comes to journals. After months of searching, it was in Bookworks that he finally discovered the perfect journal to inspire him. The engraved leather covering opens to reveal rich, creamy pages, with everything wrapped in durable leather straps. I think his new journal embodies Bookworks perfectly: sturdy, lovely, and poised to reveal new secrets to those willing to enter.
When I mention to Hudson that the prices are extremely reasonable for a downtown Nantucket shop, her face forms a delighted smile. “That’s on purpose!” she exclaims. Bookworks, like any other business, must make a profit in order to stay afloat. However, what sets Bookworks apart from many other downtown businesses is that the prices cater to year-round islanders and also to kids. But this is not done sans stress. “The seasonality of Nantucket can really deliver a hard hit,” discloses Hudson with the same twinge of grimness that haunts many small business owners on Nantucket.
But Bookworks is hardy; it has been a fixture on the island since 1972, when Patty Claflin launched the original shop in the basement of the Mooney Building, which now houses town offices. Hudson bought the shop in 2000 after having worked there for five years. But Hudson’s love for Bookworks goes back even beyond 1995; she has loved the shop since she was 12-years-old. There is a glint of nostalgia in her eyes as she relives her first time inside the store that would one day become hers. “I remember wandering into the back room. There were so many cool toys, and it all felt so secret!” But even with her innovative sense of creativity, Hudson has a profound respect for the shop’s legacy. “I didn’t change it; I loved it just as it was,” she says of the bookstore.
And love remains a befitting word for Hudson’s feelings surrounding Bookworks. “The best thing about this business,” says Hudson, “Is that it’s fun! It is such a treat to talk about books with people from all walks of life, all around the globe.” But Hudson’s dearest love is always reserved for Nantucket. “Our goal is to really be a resource for the community,” says Hudson, nodding earnestly. “We want to be an avenue for people to connect with others and with themselves.” It is evident that Bookworks is an island business with a sense of responsibility to the community. Actually, a percentage of its profits are given to the Benefit Program, which allows customers to choose a Nantucket cause to which one percent of their purchase profits will always go. For example, many folks pick the Boys & Girls Club of Nantucket, the Atheneum, the Nantucket Historical Association, Sustainable Nantucket, among many more.
Accessibility is an important part of any successful, community-centered operation. That’s why Bookworks is open seven days a week all year long (except major holidays). I wonder what happens if Bookworks doesn’t carry something that a customer is seeking. Hudson responds, “We special order all the time. Items come in pretty quickly.” And with a good-natured laugh that shows her “for better or worse” love for Nantucket, she adds, “Just so long as the steamships are running!”
As a high-quality small business, Bookworks embodies the spirit of Nantucket; our independence and the pride we take in our home and in our work. For a genuine taste of Nantucket culture, drop in to Bookworks, right up Broad Street from the Wharf. Relax and let the sirens whisk you away to experience the truest of Nantucket traditions.
