Dog Ears Books in Northport is embarking on its 31 year in business.
The Northport book store turned 30 in July 2023. Owner Pamela Grath considered various ways she might celebrate that milestone, including a big party for customers and/or a special series of author events, but in the end, she settles for a quiet new guest book and 30th anniversary bookmarks.
“Losing my husband in 2022 changed my life so much,” she said. “That I simply didn’t have it in me to organize a large event.”
This season’s new canvas book bags, however, proudly declare that Dog Ears Books has been “disproving skeptics for over 200 dog years” — a belated nod to last year’s anniversary, as well as Grath’s celebration of Earth Day 2024 (Planet v. Plastics) on Monday and Independent Bookstore Day, Saturday, April 27. The dog logo on the bag, like the bookstore itself, goes back 30 years.
“The bags only arrived (last week) and already the response has been great,” Grath said. “I’m glad I decided to go with book bags rather than T-shirts. They are less expensive for our customers, there’s no worry about sizes, and they really are handy for carrying books, whether from the bookstore or library or home.”
What does “disproving skeptics” mean?
“When I first started out in 1993, people kept telling me, ‘No one reads books any more.’ Well they did then, and they still do now, or I wouldn’t have lasted three decades,” she said.
Many young people seem especially intrigued by physical books.
“Electronic devices are ordinary to kids. They grew up with them and take them for granted. But when they see a book that’s over 100 year-old, their eyes light up in amazement. It’s really great to see.”
Committing to a bookstore in a small village at the end of a peninsula means life in the slow lane for all but a few summer weeks. Nevertheless, it’s a life GRath chose with yer eye open, and almost 31 years later she has no regrets.
“I’ve met interesting people, and I’ve made a lot of friends. What more could anyone ask from a way of making a modest living,” she said.
