When Carol Montgomery announced on Facebook she was permanently closing The Book Re-View after almost 30 years in business, it seemed like the Orillia success story was coming to an end.
Mary Oakley wasn’t having it.
After reading the OrilliaMatters story about the pending closure, she and her husband, David, approached Montgomery with the hope of purchasing the West Street North business.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid, and my husband and I are very big readers,” Oakley said.
The two started a new chapter in their lives when they reopened The Book Re-View on Aug. 17.
Before purchasing the store, Oakley was working as a keyholder at Dollarama.
“I wanted something more, so we figured, ‘Why don’t we try it?’” she said.
Becoming an entrepreneur in the midst of a global pandemic was a different experience for Oakley, but it wasn’t difficult, she said.
“Because I’ve worked through the whole thing, this is just normal for me,” she said.
Regulars at The Book Re-View will see few changes. The biggest change is an updated software system to keep track of transactions and stock.
Under its previous ownership, The Book Re-View offered a stamp card, providing $3 off a customer’s 11th purchase. Oakley will honour existing cards.
The store used to buy books from people. Oakley hopes to do that again, but for now, she is only offering in-store credit in exchange for books.
Starting Sept. 8, the store’s hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sundays and Mondays.
The Book Re-View can be followed on Facebook and Instagram. Its website is under construction.
