The movement to beautify Downtown Binghamton has another addition with River Read Books, a new independent bookstore that offers students and residents alike a more intimate alternative to larger chain stores.
As the name implies, the bookstore overlooks the Chenango River on Court Street, just where the river walk begins.
The store is owned and operated by three women in the community, including Connie Barnes, who has had experience in the book industry as a sales representative for Penguin Group (USA).
“We’ve [the three women] always been a big part of the community,” Barnes said. “Now it’s time for us to create this oasis in Binghamton.”
While the store is open seven days a week, all three women have kept their primary jobs. Jane Stuart-Andrus, who is married to a Binghamton University professor, works on campus at the preschool as a kindergarten teacher.
The three owners want to get customers to spend more time Downtown and are providing customers with the kind of options one might find at a larger bookstore, like Borders.
“We will have our own freshly-made coffee,” Barnes said, adding that there will not be any disposable cups. “Jane will be making pottery cups to use.”
River Read Books is also taking advantage of the Downtown Wi-Fi network by allowing customers to access the Internet while overlooking the river. In addition, they plan to create a number of book groups, depending on the amount of interest generated.
“We will also be getting authors as we can,” she said. “There’s a large writing community here and in Gettysburg, and we will also try for national writers.”
The owners are also open to allowing various groups to use the space in the bookstore for meetings.
Barnes said that the relationship between the different shops was a tight-knit community. She cited numerous shops one should visit, including a framing store called Garland Gallery and L’aveggio Roasteria, a coffee shop.
“We would like to be part of the movement that gets people back into the city, walking around Downtown,” Barnes said. “We’re happy to be able to introduce people to the city.”
The other shops in the neighborhood have a lot to say about River Read Books as well.
“It’s a really welcome addition Downtown,” said Sherry Eaton, manager of Garland Gallery. “I’ve heard a lot of people talking about it, everyone is very enthusiastic. We’re proud to have her [Barnes] down here with us.”