Tarpon Springs Bookstore to Write New Chapter

After a bittersweet decision and nearly a dozen U-Haul trips, Back in the Day Books has relocated to Dunedin.

Boe Rushing, owner of the book shop, said that after a few years on historic Tarpon Avenue he felt it was necessary to begin a new chapter elsewhere.

He believes that a large number of businesses in Tarpon Springs profit the most during snow bird season and business from locals is more of an afterthought. 
Rushing thinks it should be the other way around. 

"You can't rely on a very short tourist season for the majority of your business," Rushing said. "Things happen and that affects tourism."

Rushing's involvement with the Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association has been consistent since his start in Tarpon a few years back. 

He said his sole goal was to turn Tarpon Springs into the destination it could be and he has never been the type to hide that fact.

A blog post on Patch from 2012 mapped out a blueprint on attracting foot traffic to the downtown shops. Rushing's comment ended with a prophetic line: "Some of us are pouring our blood, sweat and tears into our businesses and this community but we can't wait forever."

Although Rushing said he has been considering a move for about a year, he decided to officially relocate after a City Commission meeting that took place earlier this year.

A number of business owners from the sponge docks and downtown Tarpon Avenue came forward during the meeting to voice their non-support for citywide events like food truck festivals and art shows. The argument was that the events take away from their regular customers.

During the Jan. 8 meeting, Mayor David O. Archie responded to the comments from the dissatisfied business owners. He said the commission believed the events to be a positive push for local establishments. 

"We approve it because it's our belief that it's going to be good for the businesses," Archie said during the January City Commission meeting.

Rushing said he worked hand in hand with both the Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association during his time on Tarpon Avenue. He said the divide between business owners was growing too deep for him to stick around. 

Commissioner David Banther has always been vocal about his passion for economic development and the potential Tarpon holds. He said events like the food truck rallies are good for the city, but that there needs to be balance in the organization of them.

He explained that letting businesses know about events in advance is crucial so they can prepare to adjust. Adequate parking and access were two other important issues Banther pointed out.

"It is a balance you have to strike," Banther said. "I can tell you for sure we are heading in the right direction."

Sheri Wilken, a neighboring business owner on Tarpon Avenue, has snatched up the bookstore's previous space and hopes to open her doors the first week of June.

The move was based on the need for more space, according to Wilken, who currently carries a lot of women's apparel. But the demand for men's is on the rise.

"I don't have room in here to do the women's the way it should be and the men's," Wilken explained. "In the new space, I'll have a lot more room to expand."

Her business, the Mad Hatter General Store, is currently located across the street from Back in the Day Books on Tarpon Avenue and just east of the Pinellas Trail. 

Even though Back in the Day Books couldn't make the space work, Wilken said she is not worried about her shop or other area businesses for that matter. 

"I'm very confident," Wilken said. "There are so many people getting more involved and I just see it going from strength to strength."

Although Rushing is happy to start a fresh chapter in downtown Dunedin, he said there are no negative feelings towards Tarpon Springs and that he originally "planned on staying there forever." 

"I think Tarpon's got all the potential in the world, they just gotta make it happen," he said. 

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