New Milford Downtown Keeps Notable Independent Businesses

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During one March week in New Milford, Connecticut, two neighboring downtown independent businesses were spared closure. One is the town's only independent bookstore. The other is the landmark Bank Street Theater, an Art Deco movie house built during the silent film era.

After 14 years as Baileywick Books, the 1,800-square-foot general bookstore became the Bank Street Book Nook, with new owner Janet Olsen-Ryan taking the reins from Blanche Bailey. Both the theater and the bookstore are in historic buildings that had lingered on the market, awaiting buyers who would maintain the existing businesses. According to reports in the New Milford Times, both sellers were heartened that the town's main street won't lose either cultural center. Both are planning to increase special events and update the establishments.

Janet Olsen-Ryan and her spouse, Sean Ryan, were frequent customers of Baileywick Books after moving to nearby Brookfield, Connecticut, five years ago. "My husband found out that the building was for sale because the owner wanted to retire," she told BTW. "He was upset that the town would lose its local bookstore." According to Olsen-Ryan, the 75-year-old Blanche Bailey was just about to give up on finding a new bookseller, close Baileywick, and sell the three-story, 1904 building, which includes a basement tailoring shop and second floor apartments.

On January 2, 2007, the headline in the local paper read "Popular New Milford Bookstore To Close." When the Ryans made their offer in March, Bailey was delighted that someone with enthusiasm and energy would take over the bookstore, Olsen-Ryan reported.

Although the store's name officially changed on March 30, the permanent signs for the Bank Street Book Nook are on order. "Most things are staying the same," said Olsen-Ryan. That includes the six experienced and knowledgeable staff members of Baileywick's, who are a great help as the former creative arts psychotherapist learns the bookselling ropes and does a bit of reorganizing.

"I'm very fortunate to have them all," Olsen-Ryan said. "[One of the six] Barbara Ahern owned the bookstore that preceded Baileywick's. It was called Bell, Book & Candle, and Blanche [Bailey] bought it from her.

"I'm learning all the time and it's definitely fun," she affirmed. Olsen-Ryan has plans to invite authors for readings and institute story times. She also plans on adding YA graphic novels. Perhaps those will be popular with her sons, Logan, 12, and Dillon, 10; or in a few more years when her seven-year-old twins, Savannah and Tessa, enter their teen years. --Nomi Schwartz