AN independent South Street bookshop has celebrated its third anniversary selling books to residents and visitors to Wellington.

Owned by former English teachers Richard and Sue d’Razano, Bookshop by the Blackdowns opened on November 27, 2021, in the wake of the Covid pandemic and has since become embedded into the community as a popular cultural hub.

Having worked as a teacher for 36 years, Richard says establishing Bookshop by the Blackdowns was a natural career change after the upsurge of reading post pandemic.

He added: “I mean, it's been a learning curve because obviously we were teaching books and now, we're selling them.

“Thankfully, we have a lot of customers who are really loyal and so appreciative of having an indie shop here.”

Bookshop by the Blackdowns on South Street have celebrated their 3rd anniversary
Bookshop by the Blackdowns on South Street have celebrated their 3rd anniversary (Photo: Alain Lockyer)
Richard in his shop Bookshop by the Blackdowns
Richard in his shop Bookshop by the Blackdowns (Photo: Alain Lockyer)

As part of their practice, the duo work hard to recognise local authors by selling their books and hosting in-person events. They also work closely with a number of schools to promote literacy programs. Richard says they’re keen to continue their work as a community resource.

He added: “Obviously we offer things that are different from a chain in that everything is really meticulously curated here. We try and showcase writers who just get lost.

“You know, there are great writers out there. And how do you get to give them a voice? I think that's one of the functions of an indie bookshop, really, to decide who we like, who our customers like, and curate the shop around that.

“What we provide is a kind of cultural hub for the community to come to discuss their reading, to share ideas or to make recommendations. But ultimately, reading is something that is life enhancing. It makes more thoughtful, sensitive, empathetic people.

“Books are windows into souls and they're ways to live different lives, which are not your life. There really is not only a cultural, but a personal and almost a spiritual element to it all.

“I can't really be apologetic for saying these things, because I know not everyone thinks them, but there is something really fundamentally life enhancing about being a reader.”

To find out more about Bookshop by the Blackdowns, visit www.bookshopbytheblackdowns.com