MT. CRAWFORD — If full-price books scare you, this might fill you with holiday cheer.
Green Valley Book Fair in Mt. Crawford will start a holiday sale at 8 a.m. Friday.
Having been around for 54 years, the business used to be only open six times a year, approximately 16 days at a time, closing a month and a half before the next opening day. In 2021, after the pandemic was over, the book fair began to be open all year long, Tuesdays to Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Clayton Robertson, the operations manager, explained how longer opening times help control the crowds and protect everyone from getting sick.
“Our opening days used to be so crowded,” Robertson said. “When we closed and then had an opening day, it would just be shoulder to shoulder.”
Michelle Branner, vice president of the Book Fair and daughter of the original founders, agrees that keeping the store open all year long is a better schedule.
“I love it,” Branner said. “It’s actually a lot easier, and I think that it suits our customers more because if someone was traveling and we were closed, they wouldn’t be able to stop by.”
Branner has been working at the Green Valley Book Fair for 36 years, while Robertson has worked there for 34 years. Both have stated that the customers are their favorite part of the job.
“Being able to serve customers,” Robertson said, “with great products and great prices and smiling faces.”
“We deal with a lot of schools and a lot of field trips. It’s really nice to see.” Branner said.
The holiday pavilion sale will offer items such as coffee mugs, wrapping paper, puzzles, and Christmas-themed house decor. All of these items will be priced between 39 cents and $12.99. The sale will last until the holiday items run out.
The seasonal sale will have the same hours as the book fair, with books, toys, and activity guides 60%-90% off their original prices.
“We get tractor-trailer loads of stuff,” Branner said, “and everything at the prices we sell it at, and it’s not always available, so we grab it while we can.”
Branner and Robertson encourage people to visit.
“If somebody hasn’t been there for a long time,” Branner said, “I think we’ve changed a lot, so we like to say we have something for everyone, not just the book reader. Even if you don’t read, we have so much stuff in book form that people would still be interested in.”
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