Northshire Bookstore Celebrates 50 Years

The beloved independent bookstore is celebrating its Golden Anniversary in a big way.

STORY BY MEGAN DEMAREST 

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY NORTHSHIRE BOOKSTORE

The Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT is my all-time favorite bookstore. I’ve visited many a bookstore in my day, including The Strand in New York City, Powell’s City of Books in Portland, OR, and City Lights in San Francisco, CA. All wonderful, each in their own unique way. 

What makes the Northshire Bookstore so special is something that is hard to describe, but the vibe obviously resonates with me and so many others. It’s a place where the history of fair Manchester collides with the contemporary aesthetic of today’s bookstore enthusiasts, creating an atmosphere that invites you to explore every nook and book at any pace your heart desires. 

I have run into the Bookstore quickly to grab something I need (or want), in and out in 5 minutes, thanks to ample parking and efficient book sellers. I have brought visiting friends and family in to see the super cool book arch for a photo op. I have most certainly done 90% of my holiday shopping there. And, on rare occasions when I have time to kill, I have sauntered in leisurely, knowing there is no better place to satisfy the need to browse. I don’t like in-person shopping very much. But I love shopping at the Northshire Bookstore because it has never felt like a chore. It’s always more like a privilege.

Cathleen Ihasz, Nicole Ihasz, Scott Austin, and Ashley Ihasz-Austin on the iconic Northshire Bookstore steps. ©2022 Nick Spanos, courtesy of Spanos Photo

When Nicole Ihasz, along with her sisters, Cathleen and Ashley, and Ashley’s husband, Scott Austin, took over Northshire Bookstore in the Fall of 2022, they inherited more than a business; they inherited an already-cherished community institution. The transition came through a personal connection: a conversation with Clark French, the previous owner, who reached out after the unfortunate passing of his wife Lu. Clark was exploring a sale of Northshire and thought that the Ihasz sisters would care for the store as much as his family did, and the original owners before him, Ed and Barbara Morrow, had. (You can read more about the Ihasz sisters and Scott in Stratton Magazine Winter 2023.)

“It was a gut yes for all of us,” recalls Nicole. “We grew up here. This store has meant so much to us. We never even thought it would be a possibility, so when it was, it was one that we couldn’t walk away from.” 

After a lifelong career in the music industry, Scott, Northshire’s Chief Operations Officer, noted that the transition hasn’t been without its challenges. “Overseeing a high-volume business with dozens of employees in two locations - and in two states - certainly keeps things interesting!” Still, he says, “the experience has been deeply rewarding. Ed and Barbara still visit the store regularly, and it’s not unusual for Ed and me to get into an extended conversation about the business. I’m fortunate to have his occasional counsel, and his amazing insights into how they ran the store in keeping with their original vision. That’s helped us carry the legacy forward.” 

Exterior of the Colburn House when it was still an inn.

The centerpiece of this milestone year is a celebratory event planned for August 8, 2026, on-site at the Manchester location, with festivities also taking place at the Saratoga Springs, NY store. 102.7 WEQX-FM radio will be on-site broadcasting live— a natural and fun extension of an already close relationship. “We are very friendly with the on-air staff. 

They’re huge fans of ours, and we’re huge fans of theirs,” Scott says. The celebration will feature a full day of fun and festivities for the whole family. A complete schedule will be available on Northshire’s website closer to the date.

A special 50th anniversary logo is being unveiled this spring, an extension of the redesigned image the new ownership introduced early in their tenure. Anniversary merchandise — including sweatshirts, totes, and other branded items — will also be available. Nicole had a wild anecdote to share about Northshire merchandise, which seems to have become a phenomenon in its own right. She recalled being stopped on the Chain Bridge in Budapest, Hungary by a couple who recognized her Northshire Bookstore hat: “I hear ‘Northshire Bookstore!’ and there’s a couple crossing the bridge — they live in Vermont half the year and they love Northshire. The husband said, ‘I think I have a Northshire book in my hotel room.’ And we ended up having this lovely chat.” Her sister Cathleen was similarly approached in Costa Rica while wearing a Northshire hat. It’s a small world, after all, but it seems an independent bookstore in rural Vermont like Northshire can still have a prominent place in it.

The anniversary year comes alongside a slate of new offerings and refinements.

The Northshire Book Festival, previously known as Booktopia, is their annual book festival that kicks off the first weekend in May, featuring author events and panels. “We really want to grow it,” shares Nicole. Of the festival’s longtime faithful attendees, she adds, “it’s a weekend I look forward to, and one they do, too. It’s a chance to reconnect with each other. It’s a truly beautiful thing to be part of.”

The Morrow Family, Donna Tartt, and a young Nicole Ihasz with a Northshire Bookstore book.

Northshire has also improved upon their membership rewards and revamped their subscription tiers. The first tier is Selects, a standard Book of the Month-style program with more reader customization. The second is Book Curator, Nicole’s personal book club, built around five reader identities spanning literary fiction, horror, fantasy, romance, and mystery. “Each month, I recommend five books across those categories, and readers can sign up for a free newsletter,” she explains. “On the first of the month, they receive my picks along with my thoughts. There’s also an option to have the books selected and shipped directly.” The third tier, Literary Concierge, is a premium, personalized service. “If you’re going to Ireland, for example, and you want to know five Irish authors you should read and have those waiting for you in Ireland, we can make that happen.”

Norman Mailer (second from left) and Hillary Clinton (center)

In partnership with the Barrows House in Dorset, Northshire has been hosting writer and reader retreats that have quickly developed a following. “They have such a beautiful location. It’s so charming,” Cathleen says. “We usually do a writers retreat in January, right after the holidays. The snow’s outside, and it’s so cozy, with areas for people to curl up, work, and write.” Each retreat features a beautiful dinner and a panel with authors, publishing industry professionals, and Northshire staff — including Stan Hynds, the store’s Adult Book Buyer, and Rachel Person, Director of Events. Repeat attendees have become a hallmark of the program. “These retreats allow people to make time for their literary passion,” Cathleen shares.

Book Curator retreats, organized and hosted by Nicole herself, take a different approach. “They’re thoughtfully curated getaways where we naturally end up talking about books…around the table, at wine tastings, even at Dracula’s castle.” Two intimately sized Book Curator retreats are planned this year in Charlottesville, VA with a European retreat to be announced for October. Northshire’s author programming has long been one of its most celebrated features, and the new ownership has worked to both preserve and expand it. Much of the credit goes to Rachel, who has spearheaded the programming for the past 12 years. After the acquisition in 2022, the team realigned the schedule to balance support for indie and local authors with the draw of larger events. 

Stephen King

The results have been striking. In October 2025, Northshire hosted author and activist Malala Yousafzai for an audience of 600 at Skidmore College. “You almost get chills, because it’s so impactful on the communities,” Scott says. Closer to home, bestselling local author Mel Robbins has been an enthusiastic supporter, visiting the store and promoting it on social media. “Almost all of our large-scale events sell out within days,” Scott notes. Many other notable authors have graced the Bookstore with signings, including Stephen King and Bennington College alumna Donna Tartt. 

Two physical changes have meaningfully transformed the Manchester store’s atmosphere. In 2024, café ownership transitioned to Courtney and Taylor Bellemare, who renamed it the Colburn Café in a nod to the building’s history as The Colburn House, an 18-room hotel built in 1872 known for its hospitality and a former 110-seat restaurant and dance hall. Reconfiguring the café space gave Northshire the opportunity to expand its used and rare books section, and Courtney and Taylor worked closely with them to make it happen. “What you have now is a fully integrated experience,” says Scott. “Any customer or person who walks in the doors would not know that the café is independently owned.” 

That expansion also allowed the store to grow its mystery, romance, sci-fi/fantasy, and horror sections— genres that have surged in popularity— and to stock deeper backlists. “Even if the book is from 20 years ago, it’s new to somebody today,” Nicole observes. “We can introduce older books to a new audience, and I love doing that.” 

The used and rare section has become a destination of its own. A dedicated buyer scours the region and beyond for notable acquisitions. The section currently includes signed books by President Obama and numerous other authors. Customers looking for something specific are always encouraged to ask. Special orders are available for books, gifts, and vinyl alike, even if an item isn’t on the shelves.

Opposite Page: Top Row: The Morrow Family, Donna Tartt, and a young Nicole Ihasz with a Northshire Bookstore book. Middle Row: Norman Mailer (second from left) and Hillary Clinton (center). Last Row: Stephen King. 

When the new ownership arrived, the vinyl sections at both locations were also marked for improvement. Given his background in the music industry, expanding the vinyl program was one of Scott’s first priorities. In Manchester, the section was reimagined and doubled in size. In Saratoga Springs, the records were moved from the back of the store to a prominent position near the entrance. 

“We redid the displays and put them right in the front of the store. When you walk into the Saratoga location, you hang a right, and it’s all vinyl right in front,” Scott says. The result has been enthusiastic customer engagement — browsers spending 30 minutes or more working through the selections, which span jazz, hip-hop, pop, rock, and holiday music. “It’s not an enormous part of our overall business, but it’s an important part,” he adds. 

The WEQX partnership adds a curated dimension. Each month, the station’s DJs contribute three to four staff picks. “They’re generally new releases,” explains Scott, “which complement our extensive selection of album collection must-haves.” 

One of the store’s most enduring points of pride is its children’s department — a feature that has remained largely intact through every ownership transition, and one the current team has actively invested in. I have watched my own son, now 13, exploring the children’s department throughout his life, from toddler’s board books to teen readers. Story times run regularly at both locations, drawing parents and children looking for a welcoming space, particularly in difficult weather. 

“Whether someone buys a book that day or not, doesn’t matter to us,” Scott says. “It’s being that meeting ground for folks. When we have inclement weather, we do everything we can to open, even if we have a skeleton crew, because folks need somewhere to go — especially parents. Being able to provide that center of the community in both locations is one of the most important attributes for us.” 

Beyond books, Northshire maintains strong community ties: supporting local school musicals, hosting the Girl Scouts’ annual cookie booths, and welcoming wedding parties with personalized inserts inviting local lodging guests to visit the store. 

A recent collaboration with the Kimpton Taconic Hotel launched a “Bed, Breakfast, and Books” package — described in the hotel’s own copy as “a novel stay at Kimpton Taconic Hotel that should be bookmarked for future travel” — which includes a Northshire tote, tumbler, $25 gift card, and a complimentary one-year member rewards membership. It’s a creative way to turn out-of-town visitors into long-distance regulars. 

Any conversation about what makes Northshire endure inevitably circles back to its staff — and few embody that continuity more than Nancy Scheemaker, Director of Retail Operations, who has been with the store for nearly 28 years. What began as a part-time position in the children’s department evolved into nearly every role the store has to offer: adult sales floor bookseller, co-manager, community outreach coordinator, and eventually the person who opened and ran the Saratoga Springs location from the ground up. 

“I never intended to be here for 28 years,” she says with a laugh. “It just happened. I really loved being part of the mission of the bookstore.” 

Before Northshire, Nancy worked in community social work, focusing on women and children. She found that those skills translated seamlessly into the art of the book recommendation — that putting the right book in the right person’s hands was its own form of advocacy. One of her most rewarding experiences is when a customer returns a year later to say a bookseller’s suggestion made their vacation. “You really made my summer vacation. What are we going to read next?” 

For Nancy, what has made Northshire exceptional is the collaborative spirit of its staff and its steady commitment to community. “The Bookstore is really a cross section of business with a community center,” she says. “It’s about really listening to and participating in our communities. Independent bookstores are essential to communities across the nation. People come in to find comfort, to find inspiration. And that’s what booksellers do — they do that through books.” 

After nearly three decades, she remains clear-eyed about the standard the store holds itself to. “We are trying to create an exceptional, rich, memorable experience every time someone comes into the store. It’s kind of a high standard.” 

A standard that is met time and again. 

Nicole and Scott agree that the staff themselves are central to what makes the store work. “We’re fortunate to have many tenured employees with ten, twenty, or even thirty plus years with us,” says Nicole. Booksellers like Alden Graves — who can name ten books similar to one you loved without missing a beat — embody the store’s ethos. See Alden’s book recommendations on page 79. “Our booksellers, they read these books,” Nicole remarks. “That is the difference, and that’s what’s so special.” Scott drew a parallel to another world he knows well: “It’s really similar to a record store. People that work at record stores work there for a reason. It’s their passion. It’s not a job.” 

As for what makes Northshire worth preserving and celebrating, Scott put it simply: “The personality of the store; I think the best word is ‘character.’ It has a character. And characters, by the way. I see my son come in and the whole staff knows him. I see old pictures of Ed and his kids in the store. It’s the sum of all of those parts. And it’s all been worth it.” 

After five decades, the character Scott described is only getting richer. As a long-time fan and supporter, I want to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to Nicole, Scott, Cathleen, Ashley, and the entire staff at Northshire Bookstore for implementing fresh and exciting updates, all while keeping the things we love intact. 

Cheers to 50 years of being the literary anchor of Manchester, VT. Our local landscape— and character— wouldn’t be the same without it. 

northshire.com