Eric Wilska got his start in the book business in 1974 with a $4500 loan and a dream. The owner of Shaker Mill Books in West Stockbridge first opened the Bookloft in Great Barrington, which he ran for 42 years before making the full-time shift from selling newly released hardcovers to used paperbacks. Throughout his career, Eric had always been involved with used and out-of-print books and owned two used bookstores in the 1970s and 2000s, Running Fence Books and Found at the Bookloft, respectively. When he was ready to retire–but not fully give up bookselling– he purchased the historic Shaker gristmill and neighboring building in West Stockbridge to continue doing what he loves on his own terms.
At Shaker Mill Books the slogan is “Where you always find what you’re not looking for.” Amongst the 30,000 books, inclusive of used, rare, antiquarian, out-of-print, and occasional new works, you’ll discover a random assortment, from a $7 copy of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road to a $7,000 signed copy of a Rolling Stones profile. The bookstore also carries the best selection of books on all things Berkshire – history, flora and fauna, and guides to the area. Perhaps Eric’s pride and joy, however, is the expansive collection of photography books.
Used books are acquired from all over, with the majority supplied by downsizing private libraries, estate sales, and spring cleaning purges. Every day he’s “greeted by a bag of books on the doorsteps.” For newer titles and photography books, Eric travels to publishers’ book sales. Books that don’t fit on the shelves in the main building or in the historic Grist Mill next door get sent down to their overflow warehouse in Housatonic, a space they share with the Stockbridge Library.
Eric considers Shaker Mill Books a COVID success story, as many people had nothing better to do than read all day during quarantine. Foot traffic in West Stockbridge grew during the pandemic as people moved to the area and sought refuge from populated urban areas. He also regularly encounters customers on day trips from all over New England eager to support popular small businesses in town. The merchants in West Stockbridge supported each other during the tough economic time and have collectively shaped the vibe of the town. The shift is palpable, Eric says, “On days when the coffee shop across the street is closed, I notice a decrease in sales.”
This is an encouraging change from a few years ago when the rise of online book-selling behemoths and e-readers threatened the existence of bookstores and many independent stores closed. There’s a different charm to used bookstores that can withstand the test of time. Eric’s contemporaries like Montague Book Mill and the Rodgers Book Barns are destinations and Shaker Mill Books has earned the same reputation. There’s always room for more used bookstores and Eric invites new peers. Unlike some other independents, Eric shares, “Bookstores, in particular, hold a strong emotional sentiment – the loss of a bookstore in a way is the loss of a community’s identity.” Tools like BerkShares help connect people to the particular businesses of their community, building small-town identity and supporting local culture. As Eric once said, “it just makes sense!”
Shaker Mill Books
3 Depot Street, West Stockbridge, MA 01266
https://www.shakermillbooks.com/
