Business & Tech

Photo Gallery: Bunch of Grapes Opens New Doors

For the first time in 40 years, the landmark Vineyard Haven bookstore opened in a new location

opened its doors today as it has done every day for the past 40 years. (less, of course, the one summer we’d like to forget when it was closed due to a devastating fire on July 4th, 2008). But today those doors opened in its new location directly across the street in the building that formerly housed Bowl and Board.

Children’s Buyer, Susan Savory shook her head no when asked if she was sad to leave the other space and move into this one.

“The other space was a challenge,” she said. “It was dark and it was two floors and that meant we had to exclude people.”

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The new space looks quite the same as the original Bowl and Board space  - a wide-open room with barn wood floors, high ceilings and big windows – only now it is filled with books instead of rocking chairs and sisal rugs.

While the space is nearly 2,000 square feet smaller than the original Bunch of Grapes, the open floor plan never gives that away. Customers browsed books easily in the room that felt extremely bright in comparison to the old space – even on a day that threatened a good amount of rain.

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And for those wondering if the smaller floor plan means less of a selection, you don’t have to worry.

“We brought all books,” said Savory. “Not all our bookshelves, but we did bring all our books.”

Parents and kids will be thrilled with the children’s section tucked cozily in the back corner with sofas and a reading table.

“In the other space our children’s section was upstairs. You couldn’t get strollers up there, this just makes so much more sense,” said Savory.

While nostalgia can get the best of many of us here on Martha’s Vineyard, there’s not a lot to be nostalgic for when you cross the street to the new Bunch of Grapes.

“It feels like it’s always been here,” said Savory - and truly, it does.


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