By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Managing Editor
CRANBURY — A trip to the Cranbury Bookworm can be a hunt, a mystery, an adventure.
With 20,000 regular used and more expensive antiquarian books, the bookstore caters to bibliophiles, booksellers and collectors.
The Cranbury Bookworm officially opened in 1974. The Bookworm existed for more than 38 years in a massive Victorian home at 54 North Main St. In 2013 the shop moved to a turn-of-the-century general store located at 79 North Main St. Although smaller, the new location serves the Bookworm well, according to owner Andrew Feldman.
Persistence and drive is what keeps the business going, he said, noting that there are ups and downs and the necessity to maintain balance.
“We try to enjoy the ride,” he said.
The Cranbury Bookworm is open Thursday through Monday, with the unpacking of fresh merchandise on Thursday and Friday. As with any bookshop, new merchandise can walk in at any time and Mr. Feldman never knows what will come in next, which is part of the allure of his career.
“Part of the job essentially includes treasure hunting,” he said. “I’m always out hunting for the next hidden relic or hidden gem. And the people are what keep me focused on the future.”
He is always looking for large or small collections of books and travels to Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, Connecticut and of course throughout New Jersey to purchase collections from estates, libraries and people who have more books than can fit on their shelves.
“In many cases, a family member passes away, and relatives have no idea what to do with their books,” he said.
In situations like that or when people are moving and can’t take their beloved books with them, he finds rare opportunities to connect with people.
“I help them feel at ease,” he said.
He said books are intimate looks into a person’s life and he can often tell, without speaking to someone, what someone is like by investigating their book collection.
Mystery, gardening, animal, children’s, biography, science, computer, history, religion, cooking, craft and music books fill the Bookworm because Mr. Feldman buys as much as he possibly can.
“In some cases, we will take everything — what we can pay you for and what we cannot,” he said. “Either way, we move the books. We will transport them and pay you on the spot. We also purchase antiques and paper ephemera. We are actively buying pottery, glassware, postcards, art, old letters, old documents, old photographs, and virtually anything that is interesting.”
Although he has been cumulatively involved with the Bookworm for almost 20 years of his life, there are dozens of people who are responsible for the store’s existence.
“The former owners, my parents, my wife, our extended family, friends and loyal customers,” he said. “I cannot take credit for what the Bookworm represented prior to my involvement. However, I hope that people are willing to support our store while we prepare for the future. We are planning on growing in the near future. Nothing is set in stone, but plans are in the works for a more permanent home.”
He said he thinks people need to know that when the store moved to 79 North Main St. it had an unexpected hiccup.
“We essentially opened the new location with our merchandise, and our name,” he said. “No cash. Nothing. My parents stepped in and covered our first month’s bills. The details are not important, but at the time I really wasn’t sure what would happen. Will we collapse? Will we find a way to thrive? Who opens a business that relies on having cash available to buy merchandise but doesn’t have cash? Insane, right? But we did it. And here we are two years and two months later.”
The Bookworm has a ton of interesting merchandise, he said.
“I would love to see more college and high school students come in,” he said. “We also offer a 10 percent student discount.”
For store hours and more information, visit www.cranburybookworm.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cranbury-Bookworm/181191737810.
