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Dear Friends —
It is with humble gratitude and great pride that I’m pleased to share that 2026 marks Northshire Bookstore’s 50th Anniversary of serving our communities through independent bookselling.
Founded by the Morrow family as a small bookshop on Main Street in Manchester, Vermont in 1976, Northshire moved across the street to the historic Colburn House in 1985.
Growth continued in 2003, with the addition of more than 10,000 square feet of space and the creation of the Vermont flagship's one-of-a-kind children’s floor and in-house café.
In 2013, Northshire expanded to Saratoga Springs, bringing our signature atmosphere and bookselling expertise to New York’s Capital Region with a new location on Broadway, right in the heart of the downtown area.
In 2021, ownership transitioned to the French family — close friends of ours — and in the fall of 2022, Cathleen, Nicole, Ashley, and I were honored with the opportunity to become stewards of this iconic independent bookstore and continue its tradition as a family-owned business.
The Ihasz sisters were raised locally and grew up among the stacks, and our collective backgrounds in hospitality, finance, and entertainment legacy preservation made this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity an easy “yes!” for all of us.
Northshire has always been more than a bookstore. It’s a destination for readers, gift-givers, vinyl lovers, and anyone seeking a welcoming place to gather, discover, and connect.
Our stores are proud to serve as community hubs, hosting a robust calendar of author events, and giving back through initiatives like our monthly Round Up and annual Book Angels programs.
At the heart of the Northshire experience is our extraordinary team — talented booksellers and staffers across our buying, receiving, events, social media, finance, and web and specialty sales departments — some of whom have been with us for 15, 25, and even 35+ years! Our people are what make Northshire, Northshire, and we are so very grateful to employ some of the most dedicated individuals in the industry.
And each morning when the doors open, we’re reminded why our work matters so much. It is an honor and a privilege to consider our customers not only our guests, but our friends, as we assist with whatever needs that particular day may bring.
So thank you — for your trust in us, for keeping it local, and for being the best patrons any retailer could imagine. We could not do it without you!
Finally, to celebrate this milestone year, on August 8, 2026, we’re hosting a full day of family-friendly festivities in both locations, including entertainment, special prize giveaways and more! Full details will be available soon, so please save the date and stay tuned.
We also have limited edition 50th Anniversary Northshire merchandise available in both stores, with new styles dropping all summer long.
On behalf of Cathleen, Nicole, and Ashley, thank you for supporting our family-owned independent bookstore over the past five decades. We are deeply grateful for your loyalty, your enthusiasm, and your love of books — and we look forward to serving our communities for generations to come.
Scott Austin
COO & Co-Owner
Northshire Bookstore
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