Congratulations to Books on the Common, Ridgefield, Conn., which celebrated its 40th anniversary last Sunday, June 23, with a party featuring live music, food, beverages, and a photo display of the store over the years.
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| Darwin Eliis and Ellen Burns, with Books on the Common staffers. | |
The store was founded in 1984 by Bob and Sally Silbernagel, fulfilling their dream of owning a bookstore. Bob passed away in 1991, but Sally kept the store running despite competition from chain stores and the rise of online shopping and e-books. The store has been owned since 2004 by Ellen Burns and Darwin Ellis, two longtime residents and avid readers.
Burns noted, "We celebrate the success of our store and all indie bookstores throughout the country. It's not an easy business, and so much has changed in bookselling in the past 40 years. But one thing that remains the same is our dedication to putting the right book into the right hands, and sharing the joy of reading with our customers of all ages."
Books on the Common, the owners added, is more than a place to purchase books, cards and gifts for all ages--it is a community hub and gathering place. Its presence makes Ridgefield not just a place to live, but a community people are eager to be part of.