The Book Bin, which was put up for sale last spring by Mary Smolinski and Susan Tyler, has a new owner. The Delmarva Daily Times reported that earlier this month, "customers who attended the annual open house at the Book Bin were given the opportunity to meet" Philip Wilson, who is purchasing the bookstore and will officially take over in January.
Wilson said the Book Bin "ticked all of my boxes in many, many ways," including the fact that it is not located near a large chain, national bookstore; it is the right size for serving the local community and customers traveling up and down Route 13; and it sells coffee, "which makes bookstores more comfortable for customers."
"Being comfortable is very important. It builds loyalty and ultimately also builds sales as well," Wilson noted. He also cited the successful teamwork Tyler and Smolinski had cultivated with their full-time and part-time employees, referring to staff as the "gold of the business."
E.A. McMath, who founded the bookstore in 1982 with Joanna Synder and first hired Smolinski when she was in high school, "is happy the business she started 35 years ago will keep its doors opened," the Daily Times wrote.
"I am just thrilled Philip is taking over so it doesn't close," she said.
