Since their college days, Andrea and Zack Sciuto had shared a dream of opening their own bookshop. They finally made that dream a reality in February of last year, when they opened Sciuto’s Bookshop in Douglas off Main Street. However, just over a year later, the couple has decided to permanently close the bookstore due to inadequate foot traffic.
Andrea Sciuto believes that Douglas is not a busy enough town to support a bookstore, stating that people don’t typically spend a whole day at a bookstore unless they are making multiple stops. Despite this setback, Andrea expressed that they gave it a try and are at peace with their decision to close the shop.
When they first opened, the couple had about 2,400 titles in their collection, most of which were donated or purchased at a low price. The books were in like-new or really good condition and were all priced at 50% off their original price. The collection included rare copies as well as more familiar titles and authors that caught the eye of passersby.
Andrea and Zack had dreamed of opening a bookstore since their time at Syracuse University. After graduating and getting married, they saw the bookshop as an adventure they wanted to take on as a family. While Andrea managed the shop, Zack supported them through his tree-cutting business, Sciuto Tree. Initially, the store saw a lot of business but over time foot traffic dwindled.
As they prepare to close the store at the end of April, Andrea and Zack are considering donating the remaining books to local libraries
