New Bookstore Featuring Work by Long Island Authors Set to Open in Westhampton Beach
A long-awaited local bookstore has finally made its way to Westhampton Beach. Red Jacket Books, owned and operated by Ben Vengroff, will occupy 77D Main St, had its soft opening on March 1, and will have its grand opening on March 21, 2021, which will be followed by a weeklong celebration.
Vengroff began his journey as a virtual bookseller in July 2020 out of a complete love for reading, writing, and everything in between. Red Jacket Books-- its namesake being a beloved red jacket that Vengroff has made his trademark over the years-- manifested into a physical reality when he made the decision to quit his desk job and follow his longtime dream of opening a bookstore. “Life just seemed to be too short to be stuck somewhere that I just wasn't happy,” he said in a blog post.
Vengroff took note of the opportunity the COVID-19 pandemic presented prior to opening his online shop, as people looked for hobbies to keep them occupied while in lockdown.
““With the pandemic, a website selling books seemed like the perfect entryway. Print book sales rose almost 10% in 2020 – the largest annual increase in a decade. [But] I’m doing it because I simply love books. To me, books are timeless.””
Quote from Newsday (original article)
Once it's safe to hold group events and gatherings, he looks forward to hosting book clubs, writing clubs, children's book readings, and more.
“Our focus will be to serve our customers with the latest and greatest books, from cookbooks to classics, we'll have a wide array of choices and help everyone find their next adventure, whether it be to some far off fantasy land, or perhaps just trying to figure out how to make a good bowl of pasta,” Vengroff said on the Red Jacket Books website.
The store’s grand opening celebration will span from March 21 to March 28, and will offer customers with fun gifts and activities such as a free macaron with each purchase, a prize wheel, and raffles. Currently, you can visit Red Jacket Books from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. You can visit Red Jacket Books online here.
