What I will miss

To the editor: I learned yesterday that after eight years Michael McDermott has decided to close The Bookstore in Warwick, and I will miss it. I will miss the smell of incense, the sound of soft music and the sincere welcome every time I walked in the store. I will miss being able to ask Michael for a recommendation, knowing he would remember the kinds of books I read. I will miss the pride I felt knowing Warwick was the only town in the county that supported an independent, traditional book store. For eight years, Michael tried to convince people that a town is enriched by locally owned businesses that cater to the basic needs of the community. When I came to Warwick almost 20 years ago, I could walk downtown and buy a sewing needle and a shirt, wine and a book, and all the food I needed for the week without getting in my car. I rarely walked the downtown without seeing someone I knew. Warwick is no longer that place, and I miss it. Best wishes, Michael, your store was a treasure never appreciated enough. Bob McGrath Warwick