New Bookstore Owned By Essex County Dad And Teacher Gets Opening Date

NORTH JERSEY, NJ — West Orange dad and North Jersey teacher Richard Fulco will finally see his longtime dream become a reality on Labor Day weekend when his bookstore, Big Red Books, opens in Nyack, N.Y. this Saturday, Sept. 2.

Fulco, a writer who last taught English at the Hudson School in Hoboken, will oversee the store's grand opening celebration starting at 11 a.m. that day.

"Stop in for a refreshment and browse our stacks," he posted recently. "Refreshments all day. 10 percent off all purchases. Take a photo on Big Red. Everyone is invited!"

Fulco has been posting his progress on opening the store on Facebook. See the updates here.

Fulco, who grew up in Staten Island and has also lived in Montclair, said in a Patch interview earlier this year that he loves everything about books — from the smell of the page, to discussing classic literature, to waxing nostalgic about the novels that made him love reading (Of Mice and Men and Catcher in the Rye in high school, for starts).

Fulco, a father of twins, has also written two novels of his own. In fact, he actually went to a "bookstore boot camp" in Florida in summer 2021 to learn how to run the business.

A New Page For Booksellers

Despite the threat of Amazon and big box stores edging out indie bookstores, they're making a comeback post pandemic as a place to socialize, shop, and find joy, retailers say.

Fulco worked at bookstores before he became a teacher at various New Jersey private schools.

Last year, he says, his partner, artist Nan Ring, told him, "When you see the right space, you'll know."

In January of 2023, it happened. He and Ring were strolling around Nyack, N.Y. — a quaint town on the Hudson River — when he spied the space, he told Patch in an interview.

He had already written off (get it?) artsy towns that had indie bookstores nearby — including Maplewood (Words), Jersey City (Word), Hoboken (Little City), Madison, Summit, and more — but a slim space for rent caught his eye.

A music shop had just moved out of the storefront at 120 Main St. It had a "For Rent" sign.

"I said, 'This is it. This is the spot,' " Fulco said.

He signed a three-year lease and told his bosses he wouldn't be back to teach in September. Instead, he'll be running the store.

Fulco has posted photos of the cozy store, its big red couch, and the books and merchandise he's ordered.

Follow updates on social media here. Tell Patch about your new business, or your favorite books here.