Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/310878
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SETH OLENICK L et me purge a long-kept secret: I once worked at an enormous corpo- rate bookstore in Boston. MFA degree in hand, I bagged unwanted textbooks and coveted shot glasses for college students. The gig left a dusty taste in my mouth—the daily "sales meetings," the robotic glares in coworkers' eyes—it was a drain on the soul. Luckily, Explore Booksellers in Aspen represents the utter opposite. On a spring afternoon, I traded the sunny sidewalk of Main Street for the indoor glow of ideas and enthusiasm, courtesy of manager John Edwards and chief bookseller Mark Billingsley. As they eagerly described, Explore is many things: a tangible history lesson, a friendly meeting place for locals Book It WITH THE WYLY FAMILY SOLIDLY AT THE HELM, EXPLORE BOOKSELLERS IS AN ONLYINASPEN GEM PEDDLING THE POWER OF THE WRITTEN WORD. BY BRIAN SOUSA continued on page 124 and tourists alike, and a modern business model, constantly updated as the publishing industry f luctuates. Let's put it this way: Explore's heart is in the right place. This is readily apparent when Billingsley urges, "Explore! Walk around. We encourage people to sit and read." I indulge him, choosing a luxurious black leather chair and soaking in the underground history of one of Aspen's most iconic landmarks. Explore was opened in 1975 by Katherine Thalberg, wife of former Mayor Bill Stirling. The quaint store occupies an original 1892 Victorian, where you'll find a plethora of cozy rooms stuffed with books of every category and 122 ASPENPEAK-MAGAZINE.COM SECRET CITY 122-124_AP_SS_SecretCity_SUM_FALL_14.indd 122 5/6/14 3:49 PM