SYDNEY, N.S. — If there is a national book shortage emergency, Ed Gillis kids that he will immediately re-open his popular used bookstore in downtown Sydney.
Until that unlikely event happens, he will remain on track for a safe opening of Ed’s Books and More in the spring.
“People want to see me open; I want to be open; I’m just not going to break through that door just yet,” Gillis told the Post.
“The merchants who are open, I am 100 per cent behind them and I want the public to support them. Their situation is different than mine.”
The downtown Sydney store has fashioned itself as a welcoming environment in the years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conditions now in place related to that pandemic have made such an atmosphere in his small store a problem.
“That’s the biggest part of my business, to make it a welcoming place for people to hang around and browse and have a cup of coffee and sit down. This eventually became a problem.”
Ed’s Books and More closed in November after a successful six-month run that followed its first COVID-19-related closure.
During the current downtime, Gillis said daily efforts are underway to make sure it is safer than ever before and just as welcoming.
“I’m making the store better so that when I do open it is going to be a bonus for everybody involved. I’m also hoping that day is not too far off.”
Greg McNeil is a business reporter at the Cape Breton Post.
