Ridgefield’s beloved indie book store Books on the Common is celebrating 40 years! Owned by Ellen Burns and Darwin Ellis – two long-time Ridgefielders and avid readers, today, Books on the Common is more than a place to purchase your favorite reads and bookish gifts, it is a community hub and gathering place.
Books on the Common is a treasured Main Street shop that makes Ridgefield an appealing destination for visitors and locals alike. This beloved bookstore adds to the town's quintessential charm, offering a nostalgic throwback to simpler times. Its presence makes Ridgefield not just a place to live, but a community people are eager to be part of.
Books on the Common was established in 1984 by Bob and Sally Silbernagel in a small 450 sq. ft. space on Danbury Road, fulfilling their dream of owning a bookstore. Within a year, they moved to Copps Hill Common, doubling their space shortly after. Bob sadly passed away in 1991, but Sally kept the store running despite competition from chain stores and the rise of online shopping and e-books.
Ellen remarks, “Both Sally and Bob are gone now (and we miss them, both) but their spirit, love of books, and enthusiasm for our community live on in our store.”
Thank you to Ellen and Darwin for everything Books on the Common is today and all it promises for the future!
If you’re out and about strolling through town, stop into Books on the Common (on the corner of Main and Bailey) and congratulate the Books on the Common team on four fabulous decades!
*Image courtesy Books on the Common Facebook