Travelers in the Places They Call Home
“When we learned that the local bookshop on the high street was up for sale, we looked at each other and thought—why not us?!”
Just a direct 20-minute train ride to London’s Marylebone station is the charming village of Gerrards Cross and Crocus Books & Gifts, a bookstore owned by the equally charming Nigel Miller and Jennifer Sherry.
Over the holidays, I dropped off my children’s book at their shop and lingered long enough to chat with Jennifer and Nigel, two Canadians who moved to the UK 16 years ago, and took over a beloved independent bookstore last summer.
I was pleased to see a steady parade of smiling parents, kids, and more than a few four-legged patrons, all clearly pleased that a high street bookstore was still alive, well, and very much turning a new page.
The name Crocus stems not only from the beautiful flowers of early spring, but also from the provincial flower of Manitoba, Canada, Jen’s home province.
She was kind enough to tell me a little more about life in her English village and at Crocus Books & Gifts.
Why Gerrard’s Cross?
We originally moved here because it was close to Nigel’s office and we could quickly get into the city. Now, we find it’s a perfect combination of rural and urban life. There are wonderful walks in the countryside around us, and it’s just a 20-minute train ride into the buzz of London, one of the world’s great cities.
Was a bookstore a dream or serendipity ?
I’ve always been a big reader and studied English literature at university many moons ago. For several years, I thought I might write a book, but the challenge of the blank page was intimidating.
So, when we learned that the local bookshop on the high street was up for sale, we looked at each other and thought—why not us!?
We walk everywhere in town, so the high street is important to us, and we want to see it thrive, despite the challenges all small businesses are facing. So, we took the leap!
Have there been some rewarding moments ?
The most rewarding thing, without question, has been the sense of community. Many people in town worried that the old bookshop would close, so they have embraced us. And there have been new customers coming in, too.
We love to see young families as well as older neighbors who rely on the shop. We are starting our book club and are planning a series of events.
The whole point is to bring people together, inspire a love of reading, and really enhance our community.
What can visitors expect to find when they walk through your bookshop doors?
We are just a small shop, so we can’t offer coffee and a comfy place to sit. However, we have a range of books for children and adults, from classics to the latest releases in fiction and non-fiction. We also have a wide selection of cards and small gift items.
Visitors can always count on a warm greeting and, if they have time, a chat!
Can you share a favorite place in Gerrards Cross? A pub or neighborhood restaurant?
Gerrards Cross is so close to London and Marylebone, a hot spot for great food and shopping in the city. But really, we love our village.
There’s an Italian restaurant, Luna Rossa, where the waiters know us and always greet us warmly. We took our adult kids to the local Argentinian restaurant, Lomito, for dinner before Christmas, and we all agreed it was the best steak we’d had in a long while.
We love the coffee and amazing sandwiches at Lucca, an Italian deli, and we are so happy to have an Everyman Cinema just a block away. It’s the best place ever to go to the movies.
Read about London’s Marylebone neighborhood
