“So … this is our new island hot spot, I hear,” someone called from the doorway of Books & Brew, the bookstore I had just opened. I was in the far back corner, polishing the tall oak shelves, trying to bring out their natural patina. Instantly I realized I had forgotten to lock the door behind me when arriving earlier.
“Hello?” I answered, trying to decide my next move. I was in it now. I stood and started to move slowly toward the front of the store.
“Just want to welcome you to the neighborhood, so to speak. Say hello and all that. Should I come back?” In the front room stood a tall man with what seemed like a perpetual tan. He was wearing a roomy gray sweatshirt with the Black Dog logo across the front. His jeans were worn and faded. He looked casual, comfortable, and relaxed, with both hands tucked into his front pockets.
Picking up the pace, I smiled and greeted him quickly, “No, please come in. It’s so nice to meet you. I am Carr Jepson, thanks for popping in. I am sorry to say there isn’t much to see yet. I am just getting started, really.”
“Carl Tibbons, pleasure. Welcome, it’s great to see some new life on our main street,” he said as his large hand swallowed mine in a firm shake.
“When are you expecting to open? I bet you want to be ready before the busy season, right?” Carl asked. “When the tourists come, it is everybody’s busy season, that’s for sure, even mine.”
I nodded as he spoke, “Yes, that’s exactly what I am hoping for. The inventory and all the pieces will fall into place for the busy season. I want to hit the ground running.”
“How’d you land on Mongin Island? This place is a pretty well-kept secret. How’d you stumble upon our quirky little hideaway?”
I smiled at him, “You’re right about that! My family came here for a vacation fifteen years ago, on a whim really. No one we knew had ever seen or heard of this place but the seed was planted for me when I read a magazine story about a month or so before our trip. I was intrigued. The pictures sold it and the family was up for the challenge of trying a new place. It was love at first sight, I guess you might say.” He nodded vaguely as if he had heard this story or a version of it many times before. “A magazine, you say? Interesting.”
I paused, deciding how much to share before continuing, “We purchased a home on the Rosemont resort property and have been vacationing here, a few weeks at a time, for years. But I only moved here full time recently and well, one day last month Barb Hawkins and I bumped into Allen as he was packing up his T-shirt store. The rest I guess you could say, is history. Can I make you a cup of tea? Please, come in and sit for a minute.”
Carl smiled kindly, removed his fishing hat and replied, “Sure I’m not interrupting you?”
I could already tell he wanted to know more about what was happening here, and I knew enough about island culture to know we were having tea and talking, no matter what else I had been working on or what I had previously planned to do.
“I insist,” I said. “Please make yourself comfortable. Well, as comfortable as you can in those straight back chairs. Be back in a bit!”
In just a few minutes, we were settled at the long farm table in the back room, sharing our collective list of the benefits of living on Mongin Island. We agreed on quite a few things right away. The idea that there were hardly any cars on the island, there were no busy roads, no crowds, no traffic lights, no bridge, these were all things we appreciated.
Carl shared that he lived in the lighthouse and ran the museum housed in the front room there. “It’s not really a working lighthouse, as you likely already know. I mean, it has a light and all, but it’s just a matter of flipping a switch at night. The lighthouse is not really helping much from its current location. I like to say it’s more of a tradition than a function. Years ago, I knew I needed more to keep me busy. It’s been at least twenty years, maybe more, that I have been working on selling properties here on the island and a little on the mainland, too. You know how it is here, there aren’t that many of us to go around. Heck, I am not the only one who wears multiple hats. We all do a little of everything. That’s how we make it all work here, I guess.
“I suppose I never bumped into you since the property you purchased is part of the resort,” he said. “People tend to check into the Inn and if they catch ‘island fever’ they often look first at the properties they can see from their hotel room or a restaurant or whatever. You know, the resort has their own realtors that sell the lots and homes there and that’s fine. It leaves the other seven miles of the island for me!” he laughed.
“It’s funny you say that, because that’s exactly what happened to us,” I said. “We stayed at the Inn, experienced ‘resort life’ and really didn’t explore much beyond there. The resort had everything we needed and wanted in a second property. The house we looked at was perfect; we made the deal. We all love the resort amenities, the golf, the tennis, the horseback riding, the restaurants, and even the spa. To have all of that within walking distance of our home worked for us then and it certainly works well for me now. It is really nice to be new to the island as a full time resident and have a built-in neighborhood and social life. Everyone has been really welcoming, actually.”
We spent a few more minutes chatting about island life, then Carl looked down at his watch. “Heavens, apologies, I’ve kept you long enough. I know you have a lot on your plate right now. Setting up a new business can be a challenge.” He stood up quickly, grabbed his empty mug and walked familiarly to the little kitchenette Allen had installed years ago, when this shop was the T-Shirt Gallery. Clearly, Carl had been here many times before and likely knew this store better than I did. I smiled but said nothing.
As he moved away from the sink, he said, “Tell me what you plan to do with the room we were just in. I imagine building an inventory is no easy task, especially just getting started and all. Allen used to share a meal with his customers, or sometimes use that table to design a new shirt. Although it really didn’t suit him well, he liked this store. He liked watching the golf carts come and go. It’s a great location, so close to the ferry landing and all. What are you thinking about for that room?”
I was immediately curious. Was he going to offer some kind of joint venture? Did he know someone who maybe wanted to share this space with me? I could tell Carl had his finger on the pulse of this island and he would be a good ally.
So, I told him a bit of my story. “Actually, the idea of this store has been something on my heart for a long time, I just didn’t realize it was there until this opportunity presented itself when we bumped into Allen as he cleared out. This whole venture came as a surprise to me, really. It was like suddenly I had the time, the means, and a place to bring it to life. In my mind, I’ve always envisioned a store where customers are welcome to come in, find a new book, visit with others, make new friends, discuss books, and get to know people. Basically, I imagined it to be a place that serves as a gathering spot and happens to sell books.”
He seemed interested, so I continued, “Here on this island, there isn’t a place for books that we have read—and know that a neighbor may enjoy. On the mainland, I could always donate used books to a library, but we can’t do that here. So, I was thinking the room we were just in would be a room we would use for book trades. You bring one, you can take one, that kind of thing. This way everyone can still ‘shop’ at Books & Brew—everyone can be and will be welcome here. That big table is perfect for events or people could just gather around it. You know us Southerners enjoy sharing a meal together, breaking bread together. I want customers to make it their own.”
Carl started to say something and then paused. He looked at me deeply. It could have been the first time he really saw me. Quietly, he said, “Amazing, what a clever idea. I love it. Might not make you much money, but definitely will make you rich.”
We walked together to the wood and glass front door, where he paused. “Not sure if this is helpful and it’s okay to say no, but I have boxes and boxes of pre-loved books. I mean, when I say boxes, I am thinking of multiple dozens of boxes. It is not unusual for people to leave books when they move. Getting stuff off this island is a challenge, and it is expensive to barge everything back and forth. Lots of times we find a box or two in someone’s attic or in the back of a closet. You know, as the realtor, sometimes little things like clutter can be a deal breaker, so I always just remove stuff like this before the final walk-through. It kind of keeps the deal going. I sort the boxes as I get them, and get rid of the relics and oddball things. I’ve always intended to bring a box or bag to the mainland library when they are having their book sale. Never got there and have just been stacking them in my back bedroom. I would be most pleased to donate them to your room. All you have to do is say the word. They will be yours.”
I am not sure why, even after my time on the island, this generous act still surprised me. “Carl, that would be truly incredible. Are you sure? That would be a game changer for us. I really didn’t want to open the store with an empty room. I have some books of my own I can donate, but honestly, I have a hard time parting with the ones I read to my children.”
“Then consider it done, just come by whenever it works for you. You can take what you want—and I can help you move them. I could throw a box or two in my cart and just drop off a box here and there. You know, I live in the rooms behind the museum, at the base of the lighthouse. Just come around the back path, my door is usually unlocked, like most islanders. If I am not there, you can help yourself.” He smiled, put his hat back on and walked quickly to his cart. “See you soon and great to meet you.”
I didn’t miss the gentle nudge that islanders don’t lock their doors—they don’t keep people out. We welcome people in, we share what we have, we rely on each other to live here often without a built-in network. Full-time residents are a small community. We need each other, for better or worse. We know our neighbors. This isn’t some nameless place with nameless people. The resort provided a steady stream of visitors at the Inn. But the residents were the backbone of island life. There were a lot of lessons in Carl’s casual visit.
“Carl, thank you so much. Thanks for stopping by and for the books. I would love for you to catch up with Tripp. He is helping me set up and we will be working together once the shop opens. He will be so excited to learn about your donation! Please come back again soon!” I smiled and waved as he turned his cart around and waved over his shoulder. I had a lot to learn about living in this place I loved.