Very sad news from Martha's Vineyard, Mass.: a fire that started in a cafe next door severely damaged Bunch of Grapes
bookstore. Fire,
smoke and water apparently destroyed most of the inventory and caused structural damage to the store, especially to the wall that
the cafe and bookstore share. The store is closed indefinitely, and owner Ann Nelson was
quoted by a town selectman as saying, "It's all gone."
The fire was first notice at about 9 a.m. on the Fourth of July. The Martha's Vineyard Times has extensive coverage as well as many pictures: click here and here.
The fire comes at an especially bad time for Bunch of Grapes: the summer season is the store's equivalent of Christmas, and it has its highest inventory now, as the season swings into high gear. At the Tisbury Street Fair, held on Saturday, crowds were encouraged to contribute money to help the affected businesses. Also a box for donations has been set up near Bunch of Grapes and the cafe.
Nelson founded Bunch of Grapes in 1975. In 2003, it won Publishers Weekly's Bookseller of the Year award. (See a thorough feature by yours truly on PW's website.)
We offer Ann Nelson and the staff our best wishes and deepest sympathy in this difficult time.--John Mutter