Forest Books Survives Digital Age in New Location

When high rent costs threatened to close Tracey Aledort’s Glen Cove bookstore in 2010, her loyal customers were heartbroken:

"They said, 'You can't leave, we need our bookstore,'" said owner Tracey Aledort, who re-located her shop to Locust Valley.

Now, two years later, the veteran bookseller finds herself in a location still reachable to loyal customers, as well as potential new shoppers in other nearby towns.

Bookstore closings often cite rent issues for closing, said Aledort. Such was the case for . She says a decrease in sales has reflected a tightening hard copy market with the rise of the e-reader.

If the decline of the bookstore is imminent, the industry leaves behind an unmatched book-selling experience, according to Aledort.

"I know most of my customers by name,” she said. “It's so fun building friendships, getting to know their families. Most importantly, we get to know what they enjoy reading; we're very good at suggesting new books,because we know our customers so well.”

Finding those special-interest book requests can be a daunting task, even for a professional bookseller, said Aledort. However, she is quick to name the best part of her business:

"It's the people," she said. "So many people have grown up reading books from the store, and wouldn't know where to go without the store. It's special to have that kind of impact on people."

The store has books for readers with all interests, including bestsellers, big-name authors, children's books and popular selections from school summer reading lists. The store also carries Joan Harrison's Glen Cove series.

Forest Books on 182 Birch Hill Road is open Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 516-759-1489.