Barrow Bookstore
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (used books) |
| Founded | July 12, 1971 in Concord, Massachusetts, USA |
| Founder | Claiborne Watkins and Betty Woodward |
| Headquarters | Concord , United States |
Key people | Pamela Fenn (owner 1987–2013), Aladdine Joroff (owner since 2013) |
| Products | Used books, antiquarian books |
Overview
Barrow Bookstore operates as a used-book retailer situated in Concord, Massachusetts, USA. Founded in 1971, the shop is tucked away down an alley adjacent to the town's Main Street. Its origins trace back to selling books from a wheelbarrow, which remains prominently displayed at the entrance of the current store. The bookstore is renowned for its collection focused on Concord’s historical literature, featuring authors such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott, and Henry David Thoreau. Among its notable items is a glass case exhibiting a first-edition copy of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1863 work, Tales of a Wayside Inn.
History
The store was launched on July 12, 1971, by Claiborne Watkins and Betty Woodward in an old train depot building located on Thoreau Street. Eventually, the business relocated to its present address. In 1987, ownership transferred to Pamela Fenn, who managed it for 26 years before selling it to Aladdine Joroff in 2013.
Market Position
After the 2013 closures of Vintage Books in Hopkinton and Shire Bookstore in Franklin, Barrow Bookstore, alongside Bearly Read Books in Sudbury, has become one of Massachusetts’ largest antiquarian bookshops.
Recognition
In 2025, the bookstore was recognized by USA Today as one of the top ten independent bookstores across the United States.
References
External links
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- Online book retailers
- Retail businesses in the United States
- Bookshops founded in the 20th century
- American enterprises founded in 1971
- Retail businesses established in 1971
- 1971 establishments in Massachusetts
- Tourist destinations in Concord, Massachusetts
- Secondhand bookstores
- Structures and buildings in Concord, Massachusetts
- Retail companies of the United States