After managing to survive the pandemic that started not long after its opening, Reads & Company bookshop in Phoenixville is eager to start a new chapter. Alex Green covered the owners’ endurance for Publishers Weekly.

Jason Hafer, who previously co-owned Phoenixville’s Wolfgang Books, joined forces with Robb Cadigan, author of Phoenixville Rising, to open Reads & Company in May 2019. The men believed that with the revitalization of Phoenixville, it was the right time to open a bookshop.

The initial year started auspiciously. They drew early support from many authors and managed to hit their initial sales benchmarks.

The forced COVID-19 closure was an inhibitor, but Hafer and Cadigan creatively moved forward. They hosted online events and sold books through Bookshop.org.

“We developed a very devoted following. So when we closed and said, ‘You can still support us by buying books online,’ we saw so many Bookshop.org orders, I don’t even know if we could have kept up without remote fulfillment,” said Hafer.

Now, the pair is returning to in-person events, storytimes, and other community-focused programming. They also hope to host author readings and workshops in the apartment above the shop.

Read more about Reads & Company in Publishers Weekly.