Congratulations to Watchung Booksellers, Montclair, N.J., winner of PW's Bookstore of the Year, cited in a nominating letter for being "a beloved literary and community hub for anyone who treasures the written word." (Some Shelf Awareness staffers are former residents of Montclair and nearby towns and can attest to that!)
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Margot Sage-EL and Maddie Ciliotta-Young |
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Yesterday in its newsletter to customers, owner Maddie Ciliotta-Young wrote about the award. She has been owner since 2022, taking over from her mother, Margot Sage-EL, who bought the store in 1996 with a partner, then took full ownership in 2000. Sage-EL moved the store and expanded it, and in 2023, the Kid's Room, a children's branch was opened nearby.
Ciliotta-Young said in part, "This is a huge honor that we are so proud of and has kept a smile plastered on my face all week. Bookselling was not on the top of my list of careers when I was growing up. In fact, when my mom first transitioned from a Great Owl Books catalog to owning Watchung Booksellers, I stopped reading for a year in protest.
"Fast forward a few decades and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else but right here with our amazing staff, customers, and literary community. This designation didn't happen by chance and it's truly humbling to get national recognition for what we do day in and day out. Behind every book club is a bookseller who’s dying to share their favorite backlist with you. Behind every podcast episode is a bookseller with a vision that the next conversation will be the reason a listener deepens their relationship with books. Behind each storytime is a bookseller who curates a space where babies and toddlers grow up surrounded by books and joy. Behind every bookfair is a bookseller who knows each school so intimately that we aim to change the literacy trajectory of even the most reluctant reader. Behind every event is a bookseller who has taken a chance on an author that we are so sure you will love too.
"We don't do this for fame or glory--although this glory certainly feels good! We do this because we believe in books and we know you do too. We believe that books have the power to shape, change, and connect communities. We know that gathering around literature, introducing our youngest community members books, and supporting writers only makes a community stronger. We're grateful that you all trust us enough to join in while we set out to do just that. Thank you."