Monday, January 31, 2011

Words Worth Books is Changing Hands!




Words Worth Books, a 26 year institution in Uptown Waterloo, is changing hands! Chuck Erion and Tricia Siemens, who founded the store in 1984, are retiring and selling the business to long-time employees, David Worsley and Mandy Brouse, as of February 1st. "It is vitally important to us that Words Worth Books continue its cultural legacy in Waterloo. We are confident that the bookstore will continue to thrive as Mandy and Dave take the helm" said Erion and Siemens.

David Worsley has been at Words Worth Books since 1999 and worked at KW Book Exchange prior to that. His prowess at connecting books and customers was recognized in 2006 with the HarperCollins Handselling Award. Mandy Brouse, also an alumna of KW Book Exchange, began at Words Worth in 2005. She is the magazine manager; school board accounts manager as well as social marketing coordinator. Mandy was awarded the Young Bookseller of the Year Award from the Canadian Booksellers Association in 2010. She was also a guest at Rideau Hall in November 2010 for the Governor General Literary Award ceremony.

Erion and Siemens, have been familiar figures on the literary scene in Waterloo Region, not only in the store but on stage for author events held in local theatres and churches. Erion notes with pride that hundreds of authors have appeared at Words Worth events, ranging from local poets to very famous writers including Timothy Findley, Jane Urquhart, John Irving, Karen Armstrong, Peter Gzowski, Christopher Moore, Sebastian Faulks, Robertson Davies, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Jean Chrétien."Waterloo readers are an enthusiastic audience," said Tricia Siemens, "we were happy to organize author appearances as they were always well attended."

Siemens and Erion both said that spending time with book-loving customers is what they will miss most once they leave the store. "We've developed some very loyal friends, who I'm sure will continue to support Words Worth's new owners," said Erion. 
Worsley and Brouse are excited to take the store into its next chapter. "I'm honoured to be entrusted with such a legacy, a store that we've helped shape, and February 1st will be business as usual except maybe with a little more importance for Dave and me!says Brouse. "We look forward to putting into practice everything we've learned from Chuck and Tricia. Their passion for books and readers has been a defining experience for us and for all the staff at Words Worth. We're very excited and honoured to take up their mantle," adds Worsley.

Words Worth Books invites customers to celebrate the change in ownership on Saturday, February 27, at the store. This will be a time for well-wishers to greet Chuck, Tricia, Dave and Mandy!

6 comments:

calic68 said...

I always knew Dave would own that store one day. I'm very happy that Words Worth Books will continue to be nurtured by people who truly love books.

Terry Fallis said...

Congratulations on the change. Here's to many more years of book selling in Waterloo. All the best...

Terry

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to everyone involved!

jasmine said...

Congratulations to all! Our local gem couldn't be in better hands.

j

Anonymous said...

... Congratulations you two... I've always been loyal to the store and will have even more reason to be so... keep up the good work... Scott at Old Goat Books

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Dave & Mandy. Word's Worth will continue to be in good hands. I wish you much success.
Lucille de la Chevrotiere
K-W Book Store & Exchange

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