This is slightly overdue, because as we all know, Helene disrupted quite a bit last week but… Sam’s Books made the top 3 for Best Bookstore. After 30+ years of business, we (and by we I mean the sole proprietor and the daughter of said proprietor) haven’t ever even made the list. Granted, the marketing team consists of one unpaid child laborer (jk I’m 42 and doing this of my own free will, but only because I believe so much in her reading philosophy and her love for what she does) – so maybe I’ve been crap at my free job.
But when we ASKED… you delivered. I cannot tell you how impactful and uplifting it’s been for my mom through the voting, the comments, the stories about how much this bookstore has affected your life, or how many generations have been shopping here – it doesn’t make the struggles of small business any easier, it doesn’t erase the uncertainty of what will happen with Oldsmar Flea Market. Her future there or the few viable options available to transition to a new spot successfully… but it’s at least made all of the above slightly more bearable. She’ll yell at me for being so opaque, but it’s been hard to see the business she built out of passion become so difficult to sustain after so long. From a daughter who adores her momma and the absolute priceless gift she gave me by making me a bookworm, and seeing the joy that I see it gives her to provide that to anyone and everyone – thank you for supporting her. Thank you for voting. Thank you for your kind words. Thank you for continuing to patronize her.
It speaks volumes that you answered the call and got this little flea market store that started as a weekend table rental, hauling books out in crates, to a permanent fixture for over 30 years. Her goal has never been to strike it rich doing this. Her goal was to spread her love of reading and being able to make it her full time job. I know I’ve already said thank you a billion times here, but THANK YOU.
Sam's Books | Used Bookstore | Oldsmar, FL 