Bricks and mortar revival in time for bookshop day

Shrugging of bookseller gloominess over bricks and mortar stores and opening just in time for National Bookshop Day, former taxi drivers John and Antoinette Bernardi have re-opened Dymocks in Wollongong.

‘‘My wife had the cheesecake shop in Fairy Meadow and I had the pavlova shop in West Wollongong and then we both went into taxi driving,’’ Mr Bernardi said. ‘‘We got tired of working in the cold and rain and were looking to open something Wollongong didn’t have," Mr Bernardi told the Illawarra Mercury.

Let's hope the Bernardis aren't back driving taxis too soon - their timing was good with the Australian Booksellers Association special day a great early boost and Book Week from August 18-24 soon to provide another.

The new Dymocks in Wollongong Central replaces one that closed there in 2010 followed by the closure of Angus and Robertson 12 months later. Second-hand book store Perey's stepped into the breech, offering new stock, while Wollongong University book store also picked up some extra trade.

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