Bronx River Books’ Mark Fowler and Harrison native Jessica Kaplan have wanted to launch a bookstore for years. Well, the dream came true last fall, when the two opened Bronx River Books in Scarsdale. “Mark and I have always been bookish people. We’re loyal members of a close-knit book club that has been meeting regularly for 26 years, and we’ve taken seminars on Marcel Proust, Leo Tolstoy, Jane Austen, and David Foster Wallace,” says Kaplan.
As independent bookstores struggle to compete with Internet giants and brick-and-mortar chains, Bronx River Books’ slogan urges supporting local business: “Shop the village. Read the world.”
Customers are encouraged to choose from upwards of 10,000 volumes. The shop has comfortable seating, perfect for settling in and turning a few pages, and the staff offer literary suggestions. Kaplan explains of their extensive collection: “Mark and I have read literally hundreds of reviews, reviewed countless lists of award winners and recommendations, and pleaded for suggestions from all of our reader friends and family members.”
In addition to book groups for adults and story times for kids, Bronx River Books also offers a selection of themed T-shirts, mugs, reading lights, and giftable items for any bibliophile.
