"As long as she can remember, Dawn Braasch has loved reading and has adored books," the Vineyard Gazette wrote in its introduction to a q&a with the owner of Bunch of Grapes Bookstore, Vineyard Haven, Mass. Some of our favorite responses:
How important is the holiday season to your business?
We do two-thirds to three-fourths of our business in July and August. Summer is so frenetic here! The holiday season is like summer, but in a much kinder, gentler way. We love the holidays. We stay open late at night, and that's great for business. But it's so much fun for us too because we can talk to our neighbors and talk about books we love. We carry on the Nelsons' tradition of serving eggnog on Christmas Eve. Ann [Nelson] was kind enough to give me her eggnog recipe. It's a great time of year.
What do you want to say to the buying public this holiday season?
Come in! We have a loyalty program.... I think now more than ever, if you value your downtown, your Main Street, then you should be buying local. It keeps your money in your community. I hire local people. I spend my money locally. I don't go off-Island. I pay taxes, the business pays taxes, I contribute to charities. There are many reasons why I hope people will continue to support us.
It sounds like, stresses aside, you love what you do.
I love walking into the store and smelling the books. I love who I work with; I have a great group of people. I love talking to people about books. How lucky am I, living on this Island, one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.