Montclair Indie Bookstore Celebrates 30 Vibrant Years In Town

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Over its three decades in Montclair, Watchung Booksellers has played host to celebrities such as Hillary Clinton and Stephen Colbert. But the independent bookstore always had a sweet spot for local writers.

And that’s part of why the community loves it.

Watchung Booksellers will be commemorating its 30th anniversary with an event on Saturday, April 24. Appropriately timed for Independent Bookstore Day, the celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 54 Fairfield Avenue in Watchung Plaza. (Learn more here)

Established in 1991, the vibrant bookstore has been a cornerstone of support for Montclair families, writers and schools. Over the years, Watchung Booksellers has served as a launchpad for dozens of debut authors, giving them a chance to shine on the same stage as David Sedaris, Jeff Kinney and Bobbi Brown.

• See related article: Hillary Clinton Book Signing At Montclair Bookstore Draws Huge Crowd

The bookstore has also weaved itself into the fabric of the community, partnering for events and projects with the Montclair Public Library, Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence, the Adult School of Montclair and other local groups.

Here’s a little bit of background about the store’s origin, as seen on its website:

“Watchung Booksellers was founded in 1991 by Kathy Linsk at 33 Watchung Plaza, on the second floor above the old Bradner’s Pharmacy. In 1996, Margot Sage-El and Trina Rogers became new owners and started to rebuild and reach out to the community. Margot became sole owner in 2000. Watchung Booksellers moved into our current, beautiful home on Fairfield Street in August 2001.”

According to staff, Saturday’s event will be a chance to give a nod to the loyal book lovers who have supported it throughout its long history, especially over the past year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Where would we be without Watchung Booksellers?” one customer recently commented online, summing up the feelings of many literature fans in the township. “Really though!”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page.