Stillwater Books

Robin St Pierre

A QUAINT AND COZY BOOKSTORE WITH A TABLE , CHAIRS AND SOFT COMFY CHAIRS. WHILE YOU ARE VISITING YOU CAN BUY SOME SNACKS AND DRINKS AND EAT THEM AT THE TABLE. THE BOOK SELECTION IS ABSOLUTELY BETTER THAN OTHER SHOPS. THERE ARE NEW BOOKS, GENTLY USED BOOKS AND A CHILDREN' SECTION OF BOOKS AND TOYS . FREE PARKING LOCATED BEHIND THE SHOP. THIS SHOP DESERVES MORE THAN 5 STARS.

Ezra Blasing

Old school bookstores are hard to find!! Stillwater is a great asset to Pawtucket and would recommend supporting them in any way you can. Good selection of pre owned books in great shape, for great prices in a clean, quiet atmosphere.

robin st pierre

The owners are nice. The store is clean. Our opinion of the store does not represent anything against the owners. The books are too predictable.Some books are still on the shelves from the day the store opened. These books should be gone by now. The workers sit at the register. Besides sitting at the desk and offering to buy what we are looking for, the salesgirl is not well trained in several suggestive selling ideas.Too many customer's are leaving with nothing. One suggestion is not enough if you try this. The sales ladies do not have enough familiarity with the stock. The sales ladies need to be more familiar with similar writing styles from the authors. For example, if we are looking for Agatha Christie books and they are sold out, offer books that are written and read like Agatha Christie books. Successful bookstores have sales ladies that have a passion for reading and the knowledge of authors and their writings.Selling takes practice and open to learning. However this area is really hurting the business. A well trained sales lady can take a customer that is looking for something and turn that customer into finding something better. We cringe at the response " we can order that for you." No, the passionate reader does not suggest any book or any author. The passionate reader will automatically know the stock and suggest that familiar reading style and redirect to books of the customer's interest. To get this business to the way it should be , hire an experienced sales person to train the workers that you have. Anyone can run a register but with your prime location, no one should ever leave your store without a book. Go into Barnes and Noble on a Sunday when you are closed. Look around and you will see what we mean. Ask them for books and don't tell them you own a store. Their sales people are better trained. Magazines and the daily newspaper is a great sell but not in the spot of your entrance. You could set your magazines in the section where you have the kids coloring books.It is a nice slotted bookcase and they would lead the people into the store. This section is weak. You do not offer the local newspaper.The business man interested in Time or Newsweek magazine does not want to rummage through knitting magazines so he doesn't go in.He would buy a newspaper, hot cup of coffee and a magazine. Also having a high interest in the New York Times best seller books. Every bookstore that sells the local newspaper and a hot cup of coffee will get the customers in. Offer a paid Keurig cup of coffee, cream and sugar bar. Society doesn't need the candy and unhealthy sweets.You have plenty of business professionals in your area to ho in for a daily newspaper,a hot cup of coffee and a new book. There is nothing more fun than going into a bookstore and getting a great deal on a book. A book that usually sells for thirty five dollars is priced at seventeen dollars.Other stores do this and it is the same feeling as couponing.To know that everytime that you go into the bookstore, you will leave with a treasure. Get rid of the dollar books and use that space to include some books that will entice people into the store. Get rid of the used books. Anyone can go to Saver's for used books. New books are better that can be offered at a reasonable price.You are losing business to Barnes and Noble. They offer new books and new cookbooks for low prices. Newspapers, magazines, tablets and great deals. The two business's should not mesh. The front of the store is a serious meant just for books and people that have the passion for books. The talk of people coming in to talk about book publishing should not be for the customer's ears. Meetings should not take place at the reader's table. The bathrooms should be key only. One bathroom should be staff only. The other bathroom should be controlled.

Esther Paris

What a lovely book store! Bright, cheery, wide selection of inspiring books, many by local authors. Many books of local history and interest as well. Prices are reasonable. Nice sized table of pre-loved books for a song. Easy to access by RIPTA as it is right at the Pawtucket Transit Center. Parking, H/C parking, and bike bollards are at the rear of the Chester Building. The owners are super nice, and so was the staff on duty the day I was there. (I hope to talk to them in the future about a book.) On the afternoon I visited, a local author was discussing her book with the owners & publishers. One star dropped because parking could be a stressful issue for an out-of-towner, and no bike rack near the front of the store. Last, I have to wonder if the front door is really wheelchair-friendly with the magazine rack and the 90° turn. (I almost never give 5 stars. Just sayin'. It's the rare place that is 5-stars and close to perfection.)