Our Story

People often dream of owning a bookstore. As a lifelong avid reader, I have always loved books -- those objects of paper and ink that you hold in your hands, which take you worlds away or teach you things you didn’t even know you wanted to learn. I wanted Connecticut to have a bookstore like the one I frequented when traveling to the Bay Area, toting a suitcase of paperback books to trade there. 

So, in 1995, I took the plunge. At that time, internet book selling had barely begun. Amazon had yet to sell its first book! I amassed 10,000 like-new used books, set up a tiny cafe, and on April 30, Books & Company opened. At the beginning, I kept my day job, but soon I wanted to put my energy where my heart was ~ in the bookstore.

Due to tremendous local support, we expanded into our current home in 2000. Over the years, we have continued to diversify our offerings -- greetings cards from unique, artist-oriented companies and gifts that you can’t find everywhere, including locally-made items. In 2009, Teresa Fields, owner of Legal Grounds, took over and expanded the coffee bar offering the best coffee, gelato and pastries in town!

Together, we have been guided by a strong commitment to our community, hosting lectures, author presentations, art classes and live music. Throughout the year, we and our patrons act in service to our community by implementing projects to support local nonprofits that help our neighbors.

We appreciate all of our patrons who help us create this little oasis, a place apart from the stressful world around us, an extension of home.

So come and introduce yourself--we’d love to get to know you.

  -Linda