I opened SecondRun four years ago because I felt sad that all of the used bookstores in town had closed and gone online. The gentrification of Portsmouth was making it harder and harder for small, funky, inexpensive shops to exist. I wanted there to still be places in Portsmouth where you could hang out, meet friends, feel comfortable and unhurried. Where better than a used bookstore?
I feel like we have accomplished that with SecondRun. At $7 each, the books are still cheaper than an ebook, and we work hard to have only interesting books in good condition. Plus, we have boxes and boxes of $1 books just waiting for one last chance to be read.
The future of books in our society is uncertain. Will they still be printed in five years? Ten Years? The good news is there are already many millions of used books in circulation, so no matter what happens, you can always stop by SecondRun for a good book that feels good in your hand.
Thanks for reading!
Tom Holbrook
Owner,
SecondRun Bookstore
RiverRun Bookstore