Comments on: Montclair Book Center: Celebrating An Iconic Bookstore’s New Owners

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 12:45:50 +0000

In reply to Daria. Yep. The Passaic store and its owner were great. Spent time and money there.

By: Guy Gsell

Guy Gsell — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 01:40:15 +0000

Before it was the Montclair Book center, its name was Randall House Antiques. I worked there on and off in the early ’80s. In the years I was there, the owner brought in more and more books and it started looking less like an antique store and more like a bookstore. (They even added greeting cards at one point.) Finally, they sold the place and moved to Texas. Even to this day, I sometimes find books on the shelves with the old RH price tag. I wish the new owners all the best.

By: Patrick O'Dowd

Patrick O'Dowd — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:16:12 +0000

In reply to Daria. Daria, thank you so much for your comment! That is such a vivid description. It's amazing how they managed to bring that spirit with them when they relocated.

By: Daria

Daria — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 14:03:24 +0000

It’s funny, that you assume the town grew up around this place. I knew this bookstore when it was Passaic Bookstore, before it relocated to Montclair. In the 1970s I used to walk from my home in Clifton, down Main Ave, past the Herald News building, and the Montauk theater (strictly XXX fare), past the Canadians fur/clothing store, and various other fashion retailers, just to get to this temple of tomes. It was just as magical then and there as is now in Montclair.