New Bookstore & Wellness Center Inspires Health Seekers

Books, CDs, and the wellness center. Main book display and jewelry case. Divine Inspirations' cashwrap area.

Divine Inspirations, a new bookstore and wellness center in Nutley, New Jersey, may have a profound effect on some of its patrons. Gloria Brown, owner and founder of the store, hopes to help people find their way to physical and spiritual health through books and instruction in the healing arts.

Recently retired from corporate work, Brown had been considering becoming a bookstore owner for almost 20 years. She attended an ABA-sponsored prospective booksellers school "about 10 or 15 years ago" and did so again, two years ago, during BookExpo America in Chicago. Brown found the Chicago sessions, facilitated by Paz & Associates, extremely valuable, especially since she learned about the opportunities for new booksellers through ABA's Book Sense Program. Divine Inspirations participates in Book Sense and its gift card program.

Brown opened the 2,000-square-foot store on October 16 with a party for family and friends. On November 8, for the store's grand opening, members of the Nutley Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon, while a jazz band played.

"We're doing well," Brown said. "People are very interested and stop in -- partly because it smells so good."

Candles and incense account for the fragrance, and are available for sale along with books for "the mind, body, and spirit -- from Acupuncture to Zen," Brown told BTW.

The 400-square-foot room that Brown has designated as the wellness center will soon be filled with classes in belly dancing, yoga, herbal medicine, diet, and other types of healing. She has been working with an established yoga center in Montclair, planning for classes. Practitioners have been stopping in and leaving their cards. Other downtown businesses, such as the spa and the fitness center across the street, have been encouraging their patrons to visit the new store. --Nomi Schwartz