Eight Cousins in Falmouth (Kaitrin Acuna)
Talk even briefly with any of the staff at Eight Cousins and you sense their pride not only in the selection and service they offer but on their intimate connection to the community.
Now the only surviving bookstore in Falmouth – there were once eight – their customers often stop by and thank the owners for keeping it going, remarking that it is a real anchor in the town.
Mary Fran Buckley, one of three current owners, said their shop has a loyal base of year-’round residents and has become a destination for tourists and summer visitors and is often the first stop of their annual vacations.
She recalls the time an English woman popped in and said, “When I told friends I was going to be going to Martha’s Vineyard they said, ‘Oh, on your way to the island you absolutely must go to Eight Cousins in Falmouth.’”
The store opened in 1986 and initially was focused solely on children’s books. On the first day the store sold three books. Gradually it expanded in size grew to include an adult selection. It has received much recognition in the literary community and in 2009 the editors of Yankee Magazine recognized it as “Best Children’s Bookstore in New England.”
All members of the knowledgeable staff are avid readers and ready with helpful suggestions. The day I stopped by I was looking for a gift for a 1 year old’s birthday. They not only came up with several perfect choices, but then wrapped the one I selected. The wrapping was so beautiful I wanted to take a photo.
“Our wrapping is our signature,” Mary Fran said.
Eight Cousins also carries cards, toys, music and gifts and offers a shipping service. “Inside Eight Cousins” is their bi-monthly newsletter which is a comprehensive listing of book recommendations, announcements of events and store news.
Eight Cousins, 189 Main Street, Falmouth, www.eightcousins.com
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Anne LeClaire
– Anne LeClaire is the best-selling author of eight novels, the latest of which is “The Lavender Hour.” A Cape Eye On Books is CapeCod.com’s online book club.
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