When Bickerton & Ripley Books, a long-time institution on Martha's Vineyard, reopened for the summer on May 22 (it usually closes every winter), it left its unheated quarters behind. It moved a few doors down on Main Street in Edgartown to a whaling captain's home and changed its name to Edgartown Books. But it retains its same cozy atmosphere in its new location with a gas burner and a big front porch and terrace for events.
Former Kirkuspublisher David LeBreton, who bought the store in March 2002, originally planned to keep things pretty much as they had always been. "We had a lease situation, which was not entirely favorable," LeBreton told PW. "We were just tying up negotiations for the store, and this other possibility emerged, so we put two balls in the air. It just seemed like a perfect answer."
Edgartown Books will now be open all year long. "There are a lot of year-round people that wanted us to stay open," said LeBreton. "In the slow days of winter, we'll at least be open three or four days a week." For this first phase, Edgartown Books will occupy 2,000 square feet on two floors of the building. LeBreton plans to take over the entire building in the months to come. He will turn the apartment in the rear of the house into office space and renovate the third floor.
