Books have always been a part of Hopkinton resident Nancy Haines' life...particularly used ones.
Therefore it was no surprise that Nancy and her husband David decided to open up an antiquarian book store. The idea first came to the couple during their honeymoon.
The Haines opened up Vintage Books in Framingham in 1988 and moved to their current location on 181 Hayden Rowe Street five years later. To them, the word vintage doesn't necessarily mean old, but unique, which is reflected in the books at their store.
With roughly 40,000 books, in subjects ranging from children's to historical pamphlets and architecture, the Haines have developed their vast collection from a variety of sources including other collectors, auctions, and estate sales. However, what they are most known for is their collection of Quaker materials, which is currently at around 8,000, giving them a special distinction as being the largest distributor of out of print Quaker books.
However, citing both the economy and the way that technology has changed how people utilize their free time, after 25 years of business, Vintage Books will be closing its doors around mid October.
Nancy believes that even though the internet provides a terrific research tool, book stores do still offer a valuable service to the community.
Currently, all books, except for the Quaker ones, are fifty percent off. The Haines are in the process of finalizing a deal with vintagequakerbooks.com in Maine to sell off their Quaker collection.
Although Nancy doesn't know what's next after the Haines close the store, she does know that it will involve books.
For more information about Vintage Books, visit their website at vintagebooks1.com.
