The Rural We: Matt Tannenbaum
Matt Tannenbaum grew up in Mt. Vernon, New York and began his book career in New York City, then later moved to Washington, D.C. But the literature lover found a home in the Berkshires, where he’s been happily running The Bookstore in Lenox for the past 40 years. He’ll be marking the store’s milestone birthday on April 1 with a day-long celebration featuring wine, snacks, songs, stories, poetry, and more, and he hopes you’ll join him.
I began my career as a stockboy in Manhattan at Gotham Book Mart, which was in business from 1920-2009. Then I was a buyer for a small press wholesaler in Washington, D.C. I moved to Berkshire County in the ‘70s and, in 1976, the bookstore came up for sale. David Silverstein had opened it when he was 30 years old, and had owned it for 10 years. I bought it 10 days before I turned 30, and have had it now for 40 years.
When I first came here I was in my 30s, and my friends and I didn’t have much money. I would invite writers to the book parties and they would say they felt bad about going because they didn’t have money to buy the book. I told them ‘I don’t need you to buy the books, I need you to come here and celebrate the other authors."
I opened the Get Lit Wine Bar in 2010 as an homage to a European friend of mine. It’s open on weekends and during readings. Last year we held over 40 events at the store. It’s a great part of being in the community and helping make the community what it is.
On April 1, we’re holding a 40th birthday party at the bookstore all day long, with food and refreshments, wine, jokes, songs and an open mic. I’m envisioning people stopping by throughout the day to read poems or to tell a story or sing a song.
Emerson said “It’s the good reader who makes the good book" and good readers is what we have. We have a stable customer base of good readers, and it’s been a little more than a generation now, so kids who grew up here are parents and they’re bringing their kids in.
I like my fellow shopkeepers, there’s a new energy now in Lenox Merchants Group. I love the authors whom I’ve met; that has been a great joy in my life. A writer once commented that this is a ‘writer’s bookshop.’ These people whom I hero worship, I get to meet them.
Restaurant URL: Matt Tannenbaum, owner of the Bookstore in Lenox, will celebrate his store's 40th birthday on April 1 with an all-day celebration.
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