It was 1997 when I walked into The Chester County Book and Music Company in West Chester, Pennsylvania to do some market research. It was part of a research project that I was working toward as a pre-requisite to my studies at Immaculata University.
My topic of choice for my research project was on how to write a cookbook. On that day in 1997, I walked into the largest bookstore in the county, scoped it out and saw an employee on a ladder loading the shelves with books. There we were – in the cookbook section of the store as I looked up at thousands of cookbooks, dreaming that one day, mine would be on that shelf. He was kind and took a few moments to speak with me. His words remain with me today as he said, “Write what you know and put it on the shelf!” I did. The first publication of MaMa Mia Cucina was published in November, 2007.
The book store is a Chester County icon and I am sorry to say that they are closing their doors in February. My hope is that they will re-open one-day soon.
When I walked into the store today, January 8, 2013 to thank my friends at The Chester County Bookstore, I am grateful for my beginnings, their advice, and all that they continue to bring to our community.
Forever grateful and best wishes to my friends at The Chester County Book & Music Company!
I will miss this revered Chester County cultural institution that closed its doors for good (at its old location – new one pending?) yesterday. I’ve lived in West Chester for 33 years, and once I got a tatse of CCBMC thirty years ago, I was hooked. I’ve spent many many happy hours in there, browsing among the generous stacks that held a very deep inventory and talking to staff members. The loss of this place hits me hard. I went in just about every day this past week, which both depressed me (the emptying shelves) and uplifted me (memories of many author signings and rare finds that couldn’t be seen or acquired elsewhere). There is no way this hole will be filled; I’m just thankful that I had the privilege of sharing 30 years of my life with this wonderful place.