The sign is simple: “Thank you, President & Mrs. Obama.”
Displayed below: A barrage of books about the 44th President of the United States of America and his First Lady Michelle Obama.
Seems about right for a bookstore nestled in the bastion of liberal politics and ideology that is Maplewood, NJ.
But there’s more to the story.
“Eight years ago, we heeded Barack Obama’s call to serve our community that was facing challenging times,” wrote Words owners Jonah and Ellen Zimiles on a post on Facebook that garnered nearly 1,700 “likes” in less than 24 hours.
“Inspired to act, we opened [words] Bookstore in Maplewood, New Jersey, on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009. Eight years later, our community and bookstore are thriving. We salute you, President and Mrs. Obama. Yes we did!”
The Zimiles aren’t kidding when they talk about serving their community. Words has consistently and relentlessly promoted local authors, causes and other businesses with endless book readings and signings and cross-promotional events such as the “Where’s Waldo?” annual hunt through the Maplewood business community.
But the community-mindedness doesn’t stop there.
Words is also known for its unique social mission to provide opportunities for young people with autism, a mission that includes providing special classes as well employment for autistic teens. Choosing autism as a cause was no whim: Jonah and Ellen Zimiles’ second child, Daniel, is autistic. They are in it for the long haul.
So, while a majority of Maplewood residents may be sad to see President Obama leave office on Jan. 20, all Maplewoodians can surely rejoice in the fact that Mr. Obama inspired Jonah and Ellen Zimiles to take on a fading bookstore called Goldfinch and turning it into a mainstay of life in Maplewood.
Come Jan. 21, 2017, Obama may be gone, but Maplewood will still have Words.
