The bookstall, over 50-years-old, has witnessed how reading habits and preferences have changed over the years. Photo Courtesy: Aakanksha Ahire
Jethalal Viseriyya is the proud owner of the bookshop which was initially a scrap store. Trading in scrap, Viseriyya would also sell a few novels. The sale picked up to Viseriyya's surprise. Gauging a new opportunity, the 64-year-old chose to venture into the "more decent" line of work. In no time, the scrap store was converted into a full-fledged bookhouse. Photo Courtesy: Aakanksha Ahire
Viseryya has been running the bookstore for over 50 years now with his wife, Ashaben Viseriyya, 56, by his side. Even today, you will find his better half seated at the bookstall welcoming customers with a warm smile
Over the years, the number of new customers has declined. He says a rise in ebooks is one of the many reasons. Besides, a lack of space to store purchased books, he says, easily accessible forms of entertainment like movies, web series and an overall loss of interest in reading especially among the young are some of the reasons. Nevertheless, to keep the stall afloat, the Viseriyya couple have expanded the bookstall into a library as well. Viseriyya says, “It's been over 25 years now that the library system has worked out successfully in attracting new customers.”
Selling books for over 50 years, Viseriyya has noticed that his customers enjoy reading books by famous authors like Jeffrey Archer, Sidney Sheldon, Lee Child, and Stephen King. Youngsters hardly enjoy reading stories of young Indian authors, he says. The only Indian-authored books, according to him, that have worked well in the past are Chetan Bhagat’s Five Point Someone, The 3 Mistakes Of My Life, and One Night At The Call Center.”
His son Chirag Viseriyya has completed his schooling and is now planning to take over the store’s operations. Jethalal Viseryya says, “My son is literate, he also understands English. So if any English-speaking customers come in search of any specific books, Chirag easily helps them out by conversing in the language. Nowadays, he comes to the stall daily and contributes to selling books and connects with the customers.”
The bookstall opens at 10 am and shuts at 9 pm. Customers have a variety to choose from as the stall stores over two lakh books. Address: Dadar West, Gokhale Road, next to Sachin Hotel
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