Between the Pages: Main Street Books

Fred Powell couldn’t find a job. So, he made his own.

His wife got a job in Cumberland, Md in 1988. Powell took to the streets of Frostburg with his 6-month-old daughter in her stroller and talked to local business owners in the area.

“Somewhere, someone suggested a bookstore,” Powell said. “There was so much positive response.”

Powell had retail experience, having worked in the industry since Christmas of 1979. But he had no experience owning a business. Retail was only supposed to be a filler job after Powell graduated from West Virginia University.

Main Street Books opened its doors to the public on Black Friday in 1989. There were a few books and no bookcases, Powell recalled.

11 years later, Powell had to move his store to its current location. He credits the 75 volunteers who helped him relocated the entire bookstore after being evicted with a month’s notice.

“Every book is on our shelf for a reason,” Powell commented. The store is home to centuries worth of books with new books hitting the shelves every day.

Main Street Books has approximately 25,000 books spanning over 50 categories. There are more than just books – the store also sells jewelry, cards, stationery, socks, t-shirts, music, buttons, and are “dabbling with book-themed mugs.”

The store also hosts a wide range of events – anything from monthly book groups to author signings and readings to piano recitals to even the occasional wedding! Main Street Books supports student events as well as offering their store space for events and fundraisers. The store currently sells T-shirts in support of FSU’s Wildlife Society.

Andy Duncan, an English professor at Frostburg State University, was credited as the best reader, Powell said.

“It’s like our playground,” Powell mentioned of Frostburg State. He explained they take advantage of everything like CES events and concerts.

“We have a great relationship [with FSU]”, Powell commented. There’s a ready supply of customers with an educational level that’s pretty high. The university gives the town a younger feel as something is always happening, he continued.

No one can say there’s nothing to read, Powell says. “There are so many worlds to explore.”

Main Street Books is located at 2 E. Main Street and is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Saturday.

The Bottom Line would like to thank Main Street Books for supporting student journalism and distributing the newspaper.