'Retold Tales': Phoenixville's New Used-Bookstore

“I’m not really sure where to put paranormal romance,” admitted Julie Saslow Winkler, 39, understandably struggling to categorize a literary sub-genre that deals in human erotic encounters with, among other creatures of the night, vampires, werewolves, and fairies.

“Thriller? Fantasy? Romance? Sci-Fi? It could go anywhere.”

Ah, the joys and frustrations of owning a bookstore.

On Thursday, Winkler, a single mother of two who relocated her family to the borough from Cherry Hill, New Jersey three months ago in pursuit of her dream of opening a bookstore, did just that: flinging open the doors of 116 Bridge Street’s Retold Tales for the first time.

“Every town needs a bookstore,” she told Patch on opening day, moments after waiving goodbye to some of her first customers. “And I can’t imagine doing anything that would make me happier.”

The inventory of the source of Winkler’s happiness consists of half children’s books and half used titles, most of which retail for between $3 and $5. Retold Tales also has a stash of antiques—first editions and collectible children’s books—that are priced at up to $100.

“I try to have something for everybody,” she said.

Though this is her first store, Winkler is a veteran of the trade. She’s been in the book business for 18 years: first at Barnes and Noble, then as an online dealer. She resolved to open her own shop when she got 10,000 books. At the start of the business day Thursday, she had about 12,000 in stock.

“I really think Phoenixville is the perfect place for a bookstore,” the Hamilton College grad went on. “It’s hard to find a town that will support one these days, but Phoenixville has this artiness and funkiness—and those are the sorts of people who read books.”

Winkler aspires to insinuate her store into the community as much as possible. To that end, she has “story times”—informal read-alongs for area children—scheduled for Sundays and Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and Thursdays at 2 p.m., and plans to forge partnerships with borough businesses to organize more events.

“I’m talking with about doing a pajama story time,” she added.

But while she wants the store to succeed, growth isn’t a goal.

“I don’t want to become a big bookstore with this huge selection of books,” she said, and laughed.

“I just want to sell good books.”