Not all bookstores are created equal. But it’s probably safe to assume that each one reflects the personality of its owner—which is why it’s nearly impossible to walk into Merritt Bookstore in Millbrook and leave with only one book. The dark gray exterior belies the explosion of colorful and inviting stacks of books, left, right, and center that greet you when you walk in the door.
You are welcomed with a warm hello when you walk in, either from Kira Wizner, with her Havapoo, Roxie, in a carry pouch slung across her front, or from one of her friendly staff. If you’ve come with a certain title in mind, they’ll help you find it. If you’re aimlessly looking for something new to read, they’re brimming with suggestions.
It’s hard to be all things to all people, particularly in a small bookstore, but Wizner caters to the community and has her finger on the pulse of what is current, trending, and of particular interest to her customers.
Merritt Bookstore was founded in 1984 by longtime resident Scott Meyer. Wizner and her husband, Jake, were already weekending in Millbrook, when in the summer of 2015, she heard that Meyer had died. She discovered online that the store had been “quietly for sale.”
“Jake and I asked ourselves, ‘How can we live in a town without a bookstore?’” They decided to buy it, with Meyer’s wife, Alison, agreeing to stay on for a year or two to help with the transition.
Books and reading loom large in the Wizner household. Jake is a published Young Adult author and has a book about writing memoir, for teens. Kira had been a middle-school English teacher before her children were born.
“It wasn’t my dream to own a bookstore, but as my children got older and needed less of my time, I’d been trying to figure out what I wanted to do next. I’d been running the book fair at my daughters’ school in Manhattan, and that gave me insight into how books were bought and sold.”
Wizner admits, “It’s been a steep learning curve. I wanted to maintain it as a bookstore and toy store. But I had to learn about turns and profit margins.”
She expanded the inventory to include gifts and reading accessories. Wizner says, “I love toys and games.” The shop is brimming with Y/A lit, arts and crafts, and every sort of non-electronic puzzle and game you can think of.
Many well-known authors have come to read from their books. Wizner says, “Ada Calhoun read from her memoir, Also a Poet, and she is coming back this spring with her new novel, Crush. Pulitzer Prize-winner Joshua Cohen, read from his book Kings. The legendary and (local) author Michael Korda, comes for all of his book launches, including the most recent, Muse of Fire.”
She says, “People walk in and tell me, ‘I already have too many books,’ and yet, they shop anyway.” Books at Merritt are simply irresistible.
By Tara Kelly
Photographs by Sabrina Eberhard
