On a quiet stretch of Main Street, where storefronts ebb and flow with the rhythms of small-town life, a new chapter is about to begin, one written not just in ink and paper, but in the shared hopes of a community.
Book RePort, an independent bookstore founded by Port Washington residents Mara Silverstein and Kathleen Schechter, will open Friday, May 15, at 40 Main St., bringing books, coffee and a renewed sense of gathering space to the heart of town.
The 1,500-square-foot shop arrives after years of anticipation following the closure of a beloved local bookstore that once anchored the community. What started as a series of meetings among residents determined to fill that void grew into a grassroots effort and eventually a business shaped by collective enthusiasm.
“Book RePort is more than a bookstore,” Silverstein said. “It’s a space for connection, conversation, and community. We wanted to create a place where people feel welcome to spend time, discover books, and engage with one another.”
The store will offer a curated selection of books for all ages, alongside a small café serving coffee and tea, as well as games, stationery and gifts. But its founders say the mission extends beyond retail. Regular programming will include children’s storytime, book clubs, author events and community gatherings.
Schechter, a former English teacher with a background in literacy, said engaging young readers is central to that vision.
“We want kids to feel just as much ownership of this space as adults,” she said. “Books can be a powerful way to build confidence, curiosity, and connection.”
That philosophy inspired the “Book RePorters” program, a youth council for students in grades 3 and up. Participants will read advance copies, offer feedback and help shape the store’s inventory and displays.
“We’ve had so many kids say, ‘Please hire me,’” Schechter said. “This is a way for them to be involved, to help decide what we carry and how the store feels.”
Silverstein and Schechter, who met through early community meetings after the previous bookstore’s closure, said their partnership grew from a shared commitment to Port Washington and a belief in the role physical bookstores still play.
Source: LI Press
