Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, N.J., is expanding this summer with the opening of a dedicated children's store.
Beginning this week, the Watchung Booksellers team will be moving the store's children's inventory from the flagship store at 54 Fairfield St. to the new space at 44 Fairfield St., just down the block. The move is expected to take place gradually throughout the summer, with timing dependent "on the town, some dedicated carpenters and handy-men, and of course the strength and speed of our booksellers."
Once the move is complete, an expanded selection of children's books will be available at 44 Fairfield St. Store owner Margot Sage-EL said the children's store spans 1,300 square feet, about the same size as the main store, but in the shape of one big square. Author events will move to the new store because of the more manageable layout, and Sage-EL and the team plan to have more robust children's programming.
At the flagship store, meanwhile, the former children's room will be renovated and become home to additional adult books and gifts. And although the two stores will have separate inventories, customers will be able to order for pick up at either store and have their full orders transferred to a single location.
For the moment, the flagship store's children's room is still open for browsing, though it will officially close at some point in the coming weeks. Once that happens, children's books will be available for pick-up. Watchung Booksellers will provide customers with frequent updates, and the tentative plan is for a soft opening later this summer with a grand opening celebration in September.
"Our kids' room is beloved by multiple generations of children and we've had steady feedback that families in Montclair wish we could expand our selection or provide more dedicated space for children," said Maddie Ciliotta-Young, Sage-EL's daughter. "So here we are, expanding into a second location!"