I didn't want to be an undergrad any more. Starting a bookstore was a way of getting that liberal arts education. I spent a lot of years at the beginning, trying to read the exciting books in history and literature and current affairs, all those humanities areas. MacMillan found kindred souls in his customers. It's a terrific town to sell books in.
People are smart, interested in all sorts of topical, intellectual, cultural things.
In 1978, Jeff and Diana Krauth opened Beyond Words Books a block away from Broadside. This store originally focused almost exclusively on New Age titles. Now a general interest store with a cafe and numerous sidelines such as crystals and windchimes, the store still maintains vast sections on personal growth, consciousness and spirituality. A look at the shelves also finds books on gardening, business, fine art and a good-sized children's section. Including office space, the store now fills three floors of the former clothing store the Krauths bought in 1991.