River's End Makes the Best of Eight Feet of Snow

Towering snow piles didn't close the doors of River's End Bookstore. Photo: Jacqueline Lalande

The River's End Bookstore in Oswego, New York, is "committed to staying open," despite the eight feet of snow that fell on the city in the past week. "It's not uncommon for this part of the country to get a lot of snow," said owner Bill Reilly, of the area that borders Lake Ontario and often gets hit with massive amounts of lake-effect snow throughout the winter. "It's just usually not so heavily concentrated. It all hit us in February."

Reilly, who lives six blocks from the store and walks to work, said that customers were "thrilled" the bookstore was open. "Some called to see if we were open and expressed great surprise that we were. I've told staff and the community that we consider ourselves an extension of the Chamber of Commerce. Lots of people count on us to help in non-book ways. I enjoy the role -- I think most independent bookstores find themselves in that position in their communities."

River's End Bookstore in warmer times.

Though business has, not surprisingly, been slower than usual (on the worst day, the store made 14 sales), when the city experienced a break in the weather, people "would come in grab some books and be ready for the next onslaught," said Reilly. "It's been pretty exciting and fun. And those people that come in are usually in good spirits."

Oswego, unlike cities like New York or Washington, D.C., is well equipped to deal with heavy snowfall, Reilly said. "Those cities would get shut down," he added. "That's not the case here." --Karen Schechner