Bookstore Tour: Mendham Books (Mendham, New Jersey)

Update -- CLOSED 2014

Bookstore Tour: Mendham Books (Mendham, New Jersey)

by Lisa Colozza Cocca

A trip to New Jersey will not be complete without a stop at MendhamBooks. The store has been an integral part of its community for seventeen years. Owned and operated by Tom and Tori Williams, the store is located at 84 East Main Street in Mendham, New Jersey. Following the Indie tradition, the store offers personal customer service backed by a wealth of information about books and literature. Visitors to the area will be hard pressed to find a local who does NOT know or recommend the store.

The Store

The bright, cheery store is very browser-friendly. Books are displayed, not stuffed, on the shelves. End caps feature books that appeal to a wide variety of tastes. Sections are clearly labeled, making the store easy to navigate.

Tom and Tori stock a variety of titles intended to reflect and expand upon the tastes of their local customers. Mendham is a very family-oriented community, so a large portion of Mendham Books is devoted to books for children and young adults. 

Community Ties

Tom and Tori know that being a bookseller today means reaching out to people beyond the walls of their store. Mendham Books frequently takes part in literary events at local schools and libraries. They often help make connections between authors and these facilities and sell books at the event.

Store Events

The things Mendham Books are best known for locally are their events. Tom and Tori bring a steady flow of guest speakers to Mendham. The store invites a variety of presenters including novelists, poets, cookbook authors, and historians. Like the books they stock on their shelves, the owners of Mendham Books try to provide something for everyone with their events.

 With an eye on the needs of the local community, Tom and Tori host many childrens’ authors and illustrators.  This fall, customers will be clamoring to the store to meet Tomie dePaola, Dan Gutman, and Jan Brett and to buy autographed copies of their books.

In addition, Mendham Books celebrates local talent. The store often hosts events featuring authors and illustrators that live and work in the surrounding area. These events allow the store’s owners to connect their customers with some new favorites. 

 

With an eye on the needs of the local community, Tom and Tori host many childrens’ authors and illustrators.  This fall, customers will be clamoring to the store to meet Tomie dePaola, Dan Gutman, and Jan Brett and to buy autographed copies of their books.

In addition, Mendham Books celebrates local talent. The store often hosts events featuring authors and illustrators that live and work in the surrounding area. These events allow the store’s owners to connect their customers with some new favorites.

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Lisa Colozza Cocca works full time as a writer and editor of educational materials and school and library books. Her first trade YA novel, Providence, will be released by Merit Press (an imprint at F & W Media) in spring 2014. She loves the cozy feeling and personal attention found in independent bookstores.

Lisa is also the author of several Junior Literary Guide selections including Graphing Story Problems (2013), Tally Charts (2013), Pictographs (2013), Line Graphs (2013), Bar Graphs (2013), Pie Graphs (2013).  Read more about Lisa’s debut novel in a blog entry by Julie Anne Lindsay (August 23, 2013) “Controversial Content in my Book: Providence, by Lisa Colozza Cocca” and on Nancy Raines Day’s blog where she writes “Next Big Thing: Providence by Lisa Colozza Cocca” (July 18, 2013) .  Follow Lisa on Twitter - @mynameislisa27.