On Sunday, October 6, former Books, Bytes & Beyond manager Sally Morgan opened the Curious Reader, a children’s specialty bookstore in Glen Rock, N.J., with her father, James Morgan, to take the place of 21-year-old BB&B, which transitioned into an educational retailer in April. “When they decided to close,” said Sally, “we decided to open a store. My Dad and I are both longtime book lovers.”
Sally brings eight years of bookselling and book-buying experience to the Curious Reader, which will have its grand opening sometime next month. A member of the Ridgewood Board of Education, Jim has a strong financial background that includes 20 years as CFO of a television company. Together they are trying to create a store that brings together books for kids and parents as well as those specifically for educators.
For the store the pair have completely revamped a 1,600 sq. ft. real estate office in a 100-year-old building and painted the walls in orange and blue, giving the space the feel of a castle. White bookcases line the walls, and a model train runs on a track close to the ceiling. Although the store primarily stocks children’s books, the Morgans will also carry a few nonbook items, including Folkmanis Puppets, as well as a small selection of books for adults. The back of the store is reserved for what Jim refers to as “the library.” The walls and shelving are made from cherry wood; a sofa in the center of the room can be moved out of the way for events. When it’s fully stocked, the library can hold 3,000 books, which will be shelved by reading level to make it easier for teachers to find the right books for their students, and for parents, who want their kids to read on level.
At present the store is relatively empty with only 15% of its inventory. The Morgans hope to receive all their stock sometime next week.
