Sulfur Books will host a grand re-opening celebration at its new location, 2 West Main St., on Independent Bookstore Day this Saturday, April 26. The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reported that Sulfur Books "is saying goodbye to the iconic black-and-white 'Book Store' mosaic tiles" that once marked the entryway to its former East Main St. location, which "has been home to local bookshops in the area for over 140 years."
Bookstore manager Sarah Butler said Sulfur Books opened there in 2019, but ultimately the shop outgrew the location and needed to move somewhere larger and more visible for customers.
"It was a hard decision because it's bittersweet leaving. It's just hard to leave the historic location, knowing how many years it had been there," she noted, adding: "It's just important in a small town for people to have access to books. Given that things are so easily accessible online, I think that it's important for people to see the importance of in-person conversations and community building through bookstores versus just relying on an algorithm to kind of provide you with content."
Sulfur Books is owned and managed by Main Street Arts, a nonprofit arts organization and art gallery in Clifton Springs. Anne Mancilla, v-p of the group's board of directors, was the owner of Explore the Bookstore, which was located in the East Main Street location before Sulfur Books moved in, the Democrat & Chronicle wrote.
Sulfur Books is a general-interest bookstore with a selection of new and used books. Butler said the new location allows for an expanded selection of gifts and stationery products, as well as a larger space for the store's open mic nights and book clubs.
"It provides a safe place for people to share their own work," she added. "I think ultimately it comes back to community, and building community and having people feel like they have a place to go to share their thoughts and ideas."
Regarding the new store, Butler said, "It's just a stunning space. This new location is kind of iconic in itself. It's got stained glass windows right above the doorway, so it's just a very unique building."