Since opening in August, Familiar Trees, a bookstore/gallery space in Pittsfield, Mass., whose new and used book selection focuses on art-related titles such as design, graphic design and photography as well as literature and poetry, "has begun to find a niche," according to co-owner Stephen Rudy, the Berkshire Eagle reported.
"To be honest with you, people are buying somewhat different books these days, I think," Rudy said. "Another thing that we have going for us is, we're specializing in art design, fiction and poetry.... So, we're very good in those areas. Just in four months, we've kind of developed a really good client base throughout the Berkshires, people coming from as far as Boston to visit the store. We're surprised at how well it's gone."
Rudy, who owns Familiar Trees with Susana Gilboe, added that the two had hoped to open in March, but the pandemic made them put their plans on hold. "We really just decided that everything was unknown and realized we couldn't predict the future, so, we really had to just put one foot in front of the other," he said. "One step at a time we just decided to do it and decided not to look back. It was the only thing we could do."
Rudy and Gilboe, who moved from New York City to the town of Washington six years ago, chose Pittsfield as the site for their store and gallery after visiting several times. "We kept coming to Pittsfield and saying, 'This city has really good bones. Why isn't anyone doing something more interesting?' " Rudy said. "We immediately sensed that there was some potential here."
The owners spent $15,000-$20,000 to renovate the store's space, which was formerly home to a sports memorabilia shop, and did most of the work on their own.
Besides books, Familiar Trees sells a variety of artworks, such as paintings and sculptures, and hosts shows for local artists.