Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD – Bookworms take note, a new store has opened at Village Square on Main St., and its owners, David and Tammy Deschesne, have stocked the shelves with a variety of titles to suit just about every interest.
The Bookmart opened July 1, after months of planning. A ribbon-cutting ceremony in September marked the official opening at the store’s downtown location.
“We’d been talking about opening a business. The planning actually took about six months,” said Tammy Deschesne.
The business carries a variety of used books in gently-used condition.
“They’re all used books in very good condition. We don’t take any with ripped or torn pages. We don’t keep ones without covers,” said Tammy. “We acquire books from the area. We have a few books on consignment. We don’t purchase, trade or exchange them.”
Both hard cover and paperbacks are available.
“Hard covers are $2.50 and paperbacks sell for $1.25,” said Tammy.
Material covers a wide array of topics, from science fiction to cooking, children’s books to Westerns.
“We have children’s books, college texts, Christian, Westerns, cookbooks, crafts, science fiction, horror,” said Tammy. “We carry a wide variety for just about every taste. We also have large-print copies and some special books.”
Specialty items include a handful of titles with local appeal.
“We have ‘Thirteen is a lucky number,’ about the Campbell family that includes 13 children; we have ‘I Can Dance,’ by Kimberly Millard, the editor of the former Fort Fairfield Review; as well as a few others,” said Tammy.
For readers/cooks preparing for upcoming holiday cooking, the store also carries a local cookbook, “Recipes from Fort Fairfield.”
The Deschesnes hope to expand their business in time to include book repair.
“We’d like to eventually do hard-cover bookbinding repair,” said David Deschesne.
In an effort to help improve communication services for residents of Fort Fairfield, the Deschesnes also offer faxing and other services at the Bookmart.
“We also have a copy/print center, offer photocopying, fax, color prints,” said David.
“We’re capable of handling small print projects, such as a school assignment,” said Tammy. “It’s convenient for those in the area.”
Both incoming and outgoing faxes can be handled at the shop.
“It’s the same number as our business number,” explained Tammy.
Business hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact 472-3900.
The Bookmart is currently running a special on some of their titles.
“We have a special on sci-fi,” said David.
“They’re four for $1 on paperbacks – those that are marked,” added Tammy.
The business is just the one of several to make the move to the Village Square in recent weeks.
“This is an exciting time for Fort Fairfield. We are experiencing a surge in business; and there is definitely a positive vibe in the air,” said Janet Kelle, director, Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce.
The Deschesnes have been pleased with business to date.
“We’ve only been open since July but traffic’s been good,” Tammy said.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
THE BOOKMART is officially open and ready to meet your winter reading needs. Located at Village Square on Main Street in Fort Fairfield, owners David and Tammy Deschesne have stocked the shelves with a wide variety of reading materials. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held recently to welcome the business to town. Present for the event, from left: Craig Cormier; Charlie Cormier; Janet McGillan, board member, Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce; David and Tammy Deschesne, owners; Wendy Wasson; Pat Troicke; Janet Kelle, director; FFCC; Carolyn Dorsey, board member, FFCC; and Sue Levasseur, town councilor.
