NEWS
Friday December 4, 2020
Cairns Local News
|9
Time for a new chapter TANYA MURPHY
growing vegetables and doing arts and crafts.
ANDREW and Kerstin Brown are ready for a new chapter in their lives as they plan to retire and sell their business, Collins Booksellers in Smithfield, which they opened 33 years ago.
“We’ll be able to see the family more and get involved in the community.”
Originally from England and Sweden, Andrew and Kerstin have lived in Cairns since 1974 and owned AB Books in Smithfield for nine years before starting Collins Booksellers. Mr and Mrs Brown said the store would close in late January if no buyer could be found. “Over the years we’ve seen generations of families coming back to the store and have met some really lovely people,” she said. “We’re grateful to the local community for supporting our shop over the years.” Mrs Brown said they were looking forward to having more time to read for pleasure and relax. “We’ve got a couple of acres and I love gardening and
Mrs Brown said books had remained as popular as ever over the decades. “I don’t think e-books had as big of an impact on books as was expected, because people like having a real book,” she said. “Plus, books make great gifts. And with reference books and textbooks, people like to make notes and see pictures and browse the pages.” She said their shop was busier than ever during COVID-19. “Books are a great way to keep both adults and children entertained without having to go outside,” she said. Mrs Brown said her favourite book was ‘The Book Thief’ by Markus Zusak while Mr Brown said his favourite book series was the classic ‘Alexandria Quartet’ by Lawrence Durrell, or any science fiction book.
Andrew and Kerstin Brown are retiring and selling their shop after 33 years in business at Collins Booksellers in Smithfield. PHOTO: Tanya Murphy
Collins Catering and Chemical Supplies Now available at Mi Centre, Raintrees Shopping Centre, Cairns
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our Valued customers from all of us at Collins
Stay Safe during the holiday season. Looking forward to working with you all in 2021
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