Bookstore Brings Unique, Immersive Feel to Downtown Harrisonburg
July 20, 2022
As customers enter the musty building with a bright blue and black sign, they approach the owner in his makeshift office made entirely out of books.
The walls of Downtown Books are stacked ceiling high with antique novels, some dating back to the early 1900s. Store owner Bob Schurtz has had the store since 1978, but it was created two years before that. Schurtz’s store is a moderately large-sized room but the thousands of books easily fill it.
“It was started by a JMU student and after two years they were leaving town so I took over,” Schurtz said.
Since Schurtz had owned this store for a long time, many may wonder why he found such an interest in owning and selling vintage books.
“… You know, some people like the real old stuff and some people just want to find a good book to read.”
He liked helping people find what they needed, but we really wanted to know what he loved about the job.
“Being around books all day,” he said, “You know, it’s a good job in my estimation.”
