A recent illustrated cover from a New Yorker magazine depicted a delivery person handing an Amazon.com package to a woman standing in her apartment doorway. Standing in the next doorway was a man who was unlocking the door to his business…. a small bookstore.

In the age of Amazon.com, mega bookstores, and other e-commerce sites, independent bookstores are fighting to stay alive. So, why would anyone want to open an independent book-store?

Well, peek into the world of the new Sherlock’s Books and Café, the entrepreneurial dream of Susan O’Toole and find out! Susan and her husband Ron decided long ago that the difference between success and failure in opening an in-dependent bookstore would be, “Elementary!” to quote Sherlock Holmes. Offer a bookstore that is more than just another place to buy books and the dream will come true.

Susan, a former General Manager at Borders Books, said she had looked hard before choosing Smithville Town Center…. “I wanted to make sure this wasn’t a romantic notion of mine and that the store would be sustainable and offer every-one a place to expand their minds and nourish their souls. That is why I chose Smithville Town Center. The center is great and offers all the shopping conveniences that anyone would need.”

Sherlock’s Books and Café offers over 100,000 titles, both new and old through their book ex-change program. Feel free to curl up in an armchair and get lost in a page-turner. Enjoy a good cup of java or delectable from the Cafe, and your laptop is welcome! Reward programs, trades, and special orders for out of print and hard to find books are also offered.

But best of all, the store is ever changing. You never know what you might find! On Friday and Saturday evenings, you will be treated to acoustic music performed by Acoustic Acrobat and many other acoustic performers. Saturday afternoons are reserved for book signings, palm and tarot card reading. Schedules are being finalized for Children’s Story Time, Book Clubs, Chess Club and even a Poetry Club.

Imagine a bit of Baker St. right here in Smithville! Visit Sherlock’s Books and Cafe and introduce yourself to Susan and Ron or one of their four children. I promise you will return again and again. And after your visit, don’t forget to see what else Smithville Town Center has to offer.