By Jeff Martin
If you’re lucky, every time you go into a bookstore there’s a book just waiting for you.
If you visit Rust Belt Books in Buffalo, you’re likely to find just that book.
Kalissa and Vinny Rondinelli, a local couple with no prior bookstore experience, have made a bold leap into the world of independent bookselling. Six months ago, the couple purchased Rust Belt Books, located at 415 Grant Street in Buffalo, after Vinny first spotted the property listing a couple of years ago. The couple, parents of three children, was drawn more to the building than the business itself.
Vinny, a real estate broker who manages properties across Western New York, admitted that he wasn’t initially interested in the bookstore’s operations. He simply found the building intriguing. Despite never having worked in a bookstore, Kalissa, a former paralegal, had always entertained the idea of running one. “I always wanted a library,” she said with a laugh.
“They had a lot of inquiries about the business, but most were from dreamers,” said Vinny. “They knew I was serious when I asked to see the basement.”
The store, which spans two floors, is home to approximately 100,000 books, with notable sections including poetry, philosophy, and art. There’s also an activity room in the back where the Rondinelli’s plan to host more events in the future. Murals decorate both the interior and exterior of the building, and an old card catalog holds a treasure trove of sketches, notes, and memories from past visitors.
Kalissa has been particularly surprised by the influx of tourists to the store. “I didn’t realize it was such a big tourism business,” she said.
Some visitors travel from as far as California, visiting bookstores across the country. The Rondinelli’s find that their customers’ interests are as diverse as their backgrounds, with many coming for books on poetry, philosophy, and art.
Though Rust Belt Books has an online presence, the Rondinelli’s are aware that if the business is to thrive long-term, they will need to expand their digital footprint and engage more with trade shows and estate sales. The store still operates much like its predecessor, with an emphasis on used books and walk-in sales. “We buy used books, or do trades and store credit,” Kalissa explained. “Bring us what you have.”
The independent bookstore faces competition from both online giants like Amazon and shifting consumer habits, as many have turned to digital options for reading. The rise of smartphones and streaming services has reshaped the book-selling landscape. Though used bookstores have endured intense competition in recent years, a resurgence in physical book sales, particularly among younger readers, has offered a ray of hope. Experts predict that the used bookstore industry will continue to see growth, with a slight 2.9% increase expected in 2024 and 2025.
Rust Belt Books is benefitting from this trend, bolstered by strong local support and renewed interest in reading. Kalissa said the word of mouth at the business is tremendous, not to mention the continued help from the former owner. The Rondinelli’s have learned business specifics from not only the former owner but through research. She never thought there would be so much work involved in owning a bookstore, which includes book jacket repair and, yes, dusting and cleaning of the books.
“I can’t say enough good things about the support we’ve received,” she said.
In the broader bookstore market, 2023 saw a mixed performance. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that bookstore sales dropped by 0.7% overall, falling from $8.39 billion in 2022 to $8.32 billion by the end of the year. However, a bright spot appeared in the first half of the year, with sales up by 6.9%. The second half of 2023 saw a significant drop, particularly after a 17% decline in August, typically a strong month due to the back-to-school rush. This suggests that the downturn in bookstore sales may have been largely driven by college stores, with independent bookstores like Rust Belt Books remaining resilient in the face of adversity.
“I think a lot of readers, book lovers, still love a used book store they can come into and get lost in,” Kalissa said.