Carol Hoenig and Peggy Zieran, long-time friends and former Borders Books and Music employees, have launched an Indiegogo campaign for a new bookstore in Rockville Centre, N.Y., on Long Island, called Turn of the Corkscrew. The pair is looking to raise $150,000 by July 26 and hopes to open the store in time for the holidays at the latest.
Hoenig and Zieran have known each other since 1994, and they've talked about opening an independent bookstore for ages. For a time, it seemed an impossible dream to them--if a chain like Borders couldn't survive, how could just two women with a small bookshop make it? But in recent years they started reading about indies making a strong comeback, the apparent leveling-out of the e-book market, and Hoenig had a very encouraging author event at an indie after the publication of her second book.
"Let's call it a romantic notion, a bucket list kind of thing, but it's now or never," Hoenig said. "And we knew from the beginning that it has to be more than just a bookstore."
Although Hoenig and Zieran haven't settled on a final location in Rockville Centre, they're looking for an approximately 1,600 square foot space to turn into a general interest new bookstore. And as the name of the store implies, they're also acquiring a tavern license, which would allow them to sell both beer and wine. Their general plan is to have most of the space reserved for books, a small bar area with stools, and a smattering of chairs and tables around the store, so that customers who go browsing with their wine and beer in-hand don't leave their drinks on the bookshelves.
The pair was drawn to Rockville Centre, called "Little Manhattan" by some, because of its vibrant, bustling community and strong local business scene. The town's proximity to New York City--it takes 40 minutes to get to Penn Station via the Long Island Rail Road--also doesn't hurt.
"There are some really nice, local shops there," explained Zieran. "It's very heartening to go into an area that has a lot of shops. We went to town, ate at local restaurants, talked to other shop owners. They said it was a great place."
Zieran joined Borders in 1992 as a children's bookseller, and by 2000 was the general manager of the Borders in Syosset, Long Island. She stayed with Borders until 2007. Since then she's managed a bowling alley and a Starbucks, respectively, and currently works from home as a daycare provider.
Hoenig started at Borders in 1994 as a part-time bookseller. Over the years she was promoted to a national events coordinator, and although she held a corporate position, planning events for Borders stores nationwide, she worked in Borders's Lower Manhattan stores. Hoenig is also an author, and the day her first novel came out in 2005 was the day she lost her position at Borders.
"It was actually an awesome thing--I had time to promote the book," remarked Hoenig, who has also been a publishing consultant, ghost writer and publicist.
The owners plan to tweak their inventory as they get a better sense of what books the Rockville Centre community wants to read, but at opening they plan to have the staples. Both women are also lovers of literary fiction. Hoenig is particularly passionate about working with midlist authors, as well as introducing up and coming writers. Zieran, meanwhile, is a big fan of children's and young adult literature, and her favorite books are The Lord of the Rings and Jane Eyre.
Hoenig and Zieran have already become provisional members of the American Booksellers Association and the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association, and have sought advice from Henry Zook of Book Court in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Jessica Stockton Bagnulo of Greenlight Bookstore, also in Brooklyn. They both attended BookExpo America last week.
Though they're still a long ways from opening, the pair has garnered a great deal of support. They've received pro bono help for making videos and other materials for their Indiegogo campaign, and organizations in Rockville Centre are already talking about working with them to hold workshops. "We're getting a lot of people who are really into the idea," said Zieran. "They want something like this in their community." --Alex Mutter
