Iconic Readers Den to close
Barb Robertson says the time has come to close her fabulous book exchange and secondhand bookstore ; Readers Den . Barb has operated the business for 16 years but a recent rent rise is forcing the heartbroken Barb to sell-up . Out goes everything , reduced by 50 per cent ! Photo : Kathryn Johnston . by Greg Martin
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Barb Robertson was off the blocks faster than a bolt of electricity and plonked down the $ 180 in cash with which she was on her way to pay her electricity bill and quipped , “ sold ”.
What this energetic woman bought was one of Windsor ’ s bestknown businesses , the Windsor Book Exchange , which had operated in the town for over four decades .
Of course , that electricity bill payment didn ’ t automatically ensure Barb became the new owner of the business , but the current proprietor and she shook hands on the deal and Barb was off to secure the finances to complete the sale .
“ I had just gone into the store to
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$ 125 $ 113 $ 65
Adults Seniors Kids ( 4-12yrs ) browse when I overheard another customer ask the owner where she was going to go , now that she was putting the business up for sale .” Barb said .
The business exchanged hands and names in May 2006 and since then the 71-year-old Barb has “ spent some of the happiest years of my life ” meeting and greeting customers , either exchanging or buying books .
“ Buying the business came at a very opportune time for me as I was not in a good place .
“ Looking back , you could say I was in a deep depression but the day I opened the doors here for business , the Black Dog went back into his kennel ,” Barb quipped .
Sadly , the owner of the 199 George Street premises has raised the rent , forcing Barb to plan the closure of her popular Readers Den business .
“ Throughout my time here , it has never been about the money ,” Barb said .
“ To tell you the truth , my takings throughout those 16 years covered my rent and the electricity bill , with sometimes a bit left over to buy myself a morning coffee .
“ It was all about my customers , many of whom I can call my friends , and those friendships and talking about books with them are what I ’ ll miss when I eventually close shop .
“ The owner has told me he has prospective tenants waiting to occupy the place but thankfully at the moment he ’ s not putting pressure on me to vacate .
“ That gives me time to try and sell as many books , DVDs and CDs as I can - and I can tell you , there ’ s plenty in stock !”
In fact , Readers Den
Readers Den bookshelves are chockablock with over 22,000 items for sale – all of them at the moment are marked down to half price ! bookshelves are chockablock with over 22,000 items for sale – all of them at the moment are marked down to half price !
As is your writer ’ s want , I asked Barb about her interest in books .
“ As far as I can remember , I loved reading – in fact I could read and write before I went to Kindergarten at Randwick ’ s Claremont College ,” Barb explained .
Barb says she loves reading all genres but her special category is crime and psychological thrillers by the likes of James Paterson , Karen Rose and Chris Carter .
“ I always had a book in hand whenever I could – throughout spending a year at Metropolitan Business College in Sydney and then holding down secretarial roles out in the workforce ,” Barb said .
Barb and her ex-husband , Ian , moved into the Hawkesbury when their two sons , Peter and David , were still young and settled on a large acreage in Mulgrave .
After their divorce , the couple , still good friends , split the property with Barb operating her own business , Supreme Park Thoroughbred Stud , where she stood two stallions , Supremnitas and Roll of Honour .
“ I put my own broodmares as well as outside mares to the stallions and also offered agistment to customers ,” Barb said .
These days , Barb is still heavily involved in the racehorse industry – she served for many years as secretary of the Australian Thoroughbred Breeders Club and after 40 years ’ service , is the body ’ s longest serving committee person .
Barb says once the store closes , she “ won ’ t be sitting on my backside as I intend to look for something to do within and for the community ”.
8 ISSUE 148 // SEPTEMBER 2022 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT