In addition to hosting Independent Bookstore Day events last weekend, Browseabout Books, Rehoboth Beach, Del., celebrated its 40th anniversary. DelmarvaNow reported that "a few locations, some expansions, a gift shop and a toy store later," Browseabout, owned by Steve and Barbara Crane, "is still going strong... It's one of the few businesses that have lasted the past 40 years in the resort town."
"Everything has changed, but what we try to do in this store is be consistent, like our customers and give them a unique place to shop," he said. At 68 "and fresh off a three-month cruise with his wife," Crane is thinking about his next moves and the future of the bookstore. "It's fulfilled all my dreams," he said. "I'm complete. I don't know what else I could do." DelmarvaNow noted that the plan "is not set in stone, just yet, but he wants Browseabout Books to be in the hands of some of the people who have cared the most about and for it--his staff."
Crane said he knows the bookshop's managerial team, which has a combined 35 years at the store, will keep Browseabout thriving. Plans are already in motion for next year. "We don't celebrate complacency. We're just going to be better every day," he said. "That's what they're going to do, and Browseabout will get better and better and better and better."
In an interview with DelmarvaNow, Crane was asked what his favorite part of the job was. "I take a lot of pride in the fact that I own this store and it's a clean, nice business," he replied. "I try to treat people the way I like to be treated and that's all I've ever done. It's been my rule. The best thing to happen is that I created it, it's created a lot of jobs and a lot of goodwill. When it's all said and done, I think I've done what I had to do and I feel good about it."
