Let history note that the first book sold at Tachair
Bookshoppe was a Kings James Bible to Mayor Jerremiah Healy. The bookstore held
its eagerly anticipated grand opening
and the Mayor came by to enact the ribbon cutting ritual. After he cut
the ribbon and spoke to the crowd, Healy pointed out that Tachair is a Gallic
word meaning “gathering place,” and talked about the store opening as an example of the ongoing
revitalization of what used to be called the Old Italian Village neighborhood of Downtown J.C.
Councilman Steve Fullop – the Mayor’s rival for the 2013
race and whose office is right across the street from the store – was billed as
featured guest speaker but he was a no-show (at least for the opening
ceremonies). Maybe it was not personal animosity between these two politicians that
caused an incomplete Jersey City municipal government welcome for a new
merchant but the more historic controversies still surrounding the linguistic
decisions made by the scholars responsible for the King James and the lack of
credit they gave to William Tyndale
A bookstore! Let our inner lives be enriched even as the
recession depletes our personal resources. It takes a village to save the
printed word (printed on paper at least, not in cyberspace). The anticipation for this store has been
genuine, people want paper books at a good price – much of the inventory is
used – and as far as I could tell, the books displayed are in near-new
condition. People want to go a bookstore, and maybe as much, they want a
bookstore that reflects the community. Bookstore as a community space is an
endangered species and the small but lively grand opening seemed a celebration
that downtown Jersey City was reversing the tide, drawing a line and declaring
No Further. It felt good, not a bar, nothing trendy, just a local bookstore
where we can go and answer the constant question, what to read next.
In keeping with the Celtic/Gallic theme (The Tachair Bookshoppe
proprietors tend to use both terms with interchangeability), a duo of guitar and
fiddle, although the guitarist doubled on flute, ran through some Irish
instrumental ditties, and later a Scottish dancer showed some authentic moves.
A coffee tasting was held, the store supplied a spread
of deserts and salads as well as soda and water. People signed the guest book. There were a lot of kids – the store features
a large children’s section and special area for parking strollers, they were
playing with tops, scraping crayons on coloring books on the back table,
clapping along with the vibrantly played Celtic melodies.
Inviting, comfortable and cozy is the best way to describe
the space. The store combines used and new inventory, and doubles as a
tranquil, bookish café. As the Mayor and
other officials departed, they were replaced by customers looking at titles and
a line formed at the cash register and the actual business began. Titles were
browsed! Transactions were made, books were bought and sold, and community was
affirmed.
Tachair Bookshoppe
260 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, New Jersey
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