A book can be and often is paradise to a self-accepting introvert such as myself. All my life, books of various kinds have been my escape from the demands of mundane everyday life and the draining demands of social interactions, great and small. Getting lost in a book connected me with its characters, its concepts, its location and time period. I could be whoever Iwanted to connect with in the plot and the premise from the preface and the foreword to the afterword and the prologue.
From cover to cover, I created my own world in the biographies and reference books I’ve enjoyed over the years. Being an avid reader for as long as I have known myself, books have always been an important part of who I am as an individual for the knowledge I’ve gained and vicarious experiences unearthed. While most of these solo adventures took place in my childhood home and high school library in my adolescence, there was a place that became my site, and haven – near the dockside – in the heart of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, VI.
My Oasis
I remember one day getting on a safari in the early 2000s, a then UVI Business student, from the nearby British Virgin Islands, I felt bored and restless on campus and just felt like a change of scene. I ended up in Havensight walking around like one of the tourists off the cruise ships on the West India Company Dock. Fate would have it that I stumbled upon a store that I hadn’t been in, in about a decade, when my older sister who also shared a love for books, would take me when I would visit her in the summers when she called St. Thomas home. Walking into Dockside Bookstore was like the prodigal son returning home after a long and painful sojourn. I found my zone! I found that place where I could be that complex amalgamation of “kid in a candy store”, intellect, bookworm, investigative analyst and literary critic, simultaneously.
Dockside Bookstore, a beloved institution in St. Thomas, USVI, opened its doors in the early 1980s. Nestled within the Havensight Mall, it quickly became a haven for book lovers, offering a curated selection of fiction, non-fiction, and Caribbean literature. The store’s welcoming atmosphere, knowledgeable staff, and commitment to fostering a literary community made it a popular destination for both locals and tourists.
Over the years, Dockside Bookstore hosted numerous author events, book signings, and literary discussions, creating a vibrant cultural hub on the island. However, like many independent bookstores, it faced challenges in the age of e-commerce and the rise of digital reading. Despite its efforts to adapt to the changing landscape, Dockside Bookstore ultimately closed its doors in 2013, leaving a void in the literary scene of St. Thomas.
Bittersweet: My internal struggle…a techie that loves to read
The closing of Dockside Bookstore was a devastating moment for me, a loss that felt deeply personal. For years, it had been more than just a bookstore; it was a haven, a place where I could escape into new worlds, uncover hidden treasures, and feel connected to a community of book lovers. The announcement of its closure struck like a thunderbolt, leaving a void that no digital platform could ever fill.
Dockside wasn’t just about buying books—it was an experience. Walking through its doors, I was greeted by the warm aroma of paper and ink, the comforting hum of quiet conversations, and the sight of shelves brimming with possibilities. It was a ritual to stroll through the aisles, pulling books off the shelves to feel their weight, admire their covers, and skim their pages. The sensory experience of a bookstore—the soft rustle of pages being turned, the inviting glow of curated displays, and the unexpected joy of discovering a hidden gem—was something Dockside provided in abundance.
One of my favorite memories of Dockside was its “New Releases” section. It was my go-to spot to discover the latest stories, hot off the press. Seeing the newest titles displayed prominently, waiting to be explored, was exhilarating. Whether it was a bestseller everyone was buzzing about or an under-the-radar debut novel, Dockside was where I found them first. I remember the anticipation of picking up a book I’d been waiting for, flipping through the pages, and feeling the weight of a new adventure in my hands.
Dockside also fostered a sense of community. It wasn’t just a store; it was a gathering place for people who shared a love of stories and knowledge. The staff knew their books and their customers, always ready with a recommendation or a thoughtful conversation about a favorite author. Over the years, I’d attended events, found thoughtful gifts for loved ones, and even shared laughs with strangers over our mutual excitement for a new release.
While I love technology and appreciate the convenience of eBooks and audiobooks, their rise has come with losses like Dockside. Yes, it’s convenient to download a book instantly or carry an entire library in my pocket, but it’s not the same as holding a book, smelling its pages, and browsing shelves filled with stories yet to be discovered. Dockside’s closing is a poignant reminder that some experiences cannot be replicated by technology. Even now, I can feel the ache of losing Dockside.
It’s not just the books I miss—it’s the atmosphere, the sense of discovery, and the feeling of belonging to a place that celebrated the written word. Dockside Bookstore wasn’t just a business; it was a cornerstone of my reading journey and a source of countless cherished memories. Its closing was a loss that felt like the end of an era, leaving me with bittersweet gratitude for all the joy it brought me.
Moreover, in the ever expanding age of technology as more Bookstores become relics, giving way to other commercial spaces, this may become the heart song of many more book lovers around the world.
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