Kira Wizner celebrates five years of owning local fav, Merritt Bookstore

MILLBROOK — When Kira Wizner took over Merritt Bookstore five years ago, she had big plans. Already a much-loved Millbrook flagship store located at 57 Front St.,  Merritt had an established clientele, but Wizner wanted to try new ideas, new products and she wanted to make it her own. From the beginning, she worked to keep the warmth and small-town feel Merritt’s former owners had established but she added her own touches along the way. 

Before long, Merritt Bookstore had moved temporarily to a new home on Franklin Avenue, while the old locale was refreshed and remodeled. While on Franklin, Merritt hosted many events including books signings with local authors, while still featuring a grand array of books, gifts, art supplies and toys. When Wizner finally turned her key in the lock at the renovated store on Front Street four months later on April 1, 2016, there were a number of great changes, with a bright and contemporary new look.

During the past five years, there have been countless authors talks, some light hearted, like Iza Trapani, author of those delightful children’s books, and some dark, but necessary, like women writers Ellen Messer and Ellen Feldin, who wrote and spoke about the squalid conditions of illegal abortions. 

There have been food-oriented events, such as when Crown Maple Syrup of nearby Dover Plains visited and handed out their sweet samples, and when two of the four Manhattan women who wrote a soup cookbook made the trek to Millbrook to talk about and then give out samples of their tasty soup.

Let’s not forget everyone’s favorite, the “Where’s Waldo?” book series and annual contest, which offers prizes for local children, involves community businesses and ends at the bookstore with a party.

The store’s lovely second floor space has hosted many art exhibitions, including, most years, the Millbrook community’s annual student art exhibit. Other educational and cultural events have also been held there, including regular Millbrook Arts Group (MAG) concerts, and Merritt is always welcoming and warm.

On Nov. 17, Wizner sent out an e-mail thanking everyone for their friendship and business, thanking them for welcoming her and her family so openly and supporting her business.

“I embraced Millbrook, and Millbrook embraced me,” she said.

She also talked about how her love of books and a once-a-year book fair at her daughter’s school originally brought her to Millbrook.

“I’m just as excited as I was at the start of it,” she said, adding, “Thank you.”

Although her husband’s work as an educator and her two daughters’ education keep them in the city a great deal, the family has always made the community’s events their own, from Millbrook’s Farmers Market to its Community Day, along with many others.

Wizner can also be seen most years at The Home Source Show, Orvis Sporting Weekend and the Millbrook Literary Festival; she usually serves on the Literary Festival’s Board. 

While most events have been canceled this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Merritt Bookstore has remained open as long as it’s been allowed to do so under the governor’s orders, striving to remain an integral part of the village’s business community. The store has gone to great lengths to keep customers safe, with a hand sanitizer station at the entrance; it requires customers to wear face masks and respect social distancing. The store also offers online orders, orders over the phone and curb-side pick-up. To learn more, go to www.merrittbooks.com or call 845-677-5857.