Bookstore

photo November 1979

Frank Scioscia moved his Dobbs Ferry Bookstore to Hastings on Hudson in 1978. He named his new store riverrun.

riverrun is an inviting store. On the day of this picture though, two of Frank's grandchildren preferred to read outside the store in the bright sunshine.

Mary, almost 6 in this photo, grew up and spent several years cataloguing books and organizing shows for riverrun. Michael, just turned 9 in the photo, is now the manager of riverrun. Like his grandfather and his father, Michael loves the store.

Back then riverrun was a hobby, not really a business, for Frank. He put considerably more money into the store than he took out. But it was worth it. riverrun was a hobby he truly loved. Everyone did.

Not a business and, after all, not a hobby either. riverrun was Frank Scioscia's calling.

Dobbs Ferry Bookstore

Gregory, Michael and Mary Stephens  Dobbs Ferry Bookstore
December 1974

Frank Scioscia's first bookstore was called Dobbs Ferry Bookstore. Scioscia didn't know if he should open a store but his son, Charles, encouraged him. Charles found the storefront for rent.

"$110 per month," Charles says. We signed the lease in spring of 1974." Charles helped Frank build bookshelves. I painted the sign. "Dobbs Ferry Bookstore" Dark blue on white. The letters were a little lopsided even though I was theoretically plenty mature enough to make proper sign letters.

Frank had lots of fun with the store. In no time though, he needed more space. He moved to Washington Avenue in Hastings in 1978. His new store was named riverrun.

riverrun is a very good name for the store in a number of ways. FAS loved the majestic Hudson River that lay just on the other side of the railroad tracks from the new store. He liked the literary connection in this name too.

Frank Scioscia and Chris Stephens thought of the name together. Their ideas got so intermingled in the animated and hilarious naming discussions that each thought he'd come up with the name for the store.

riverrun. It's the first word, also uncapitalized, in Finnegan's Wake by James Joyce. Scioscia and Stephens were both Joyce enthusiasts. So was Frank's brother, John Socia of Old York Bookstore in New Brunswick NJ. The word fit perfectly. riverrun

Brajarani Scioscia at riverrun

June 1988

Brajarani Scioscia, on the left, enjoyed an afternoon in riverrun with Mary. The cousins were friends.

Brajarani had an interesting and unusual childhood but at this time she lived in Hastings on Hudson, right around the corner from riverrun. She worked at riverrun during her sophomore year of high school and off and on during the next years. "I felt so grown up when I was there," said Braj. "But look at this picture! I was young."

Braj and Mary went to the local high school together. They liked to hang out in their grandfather's bookstore even on days when they weren't formally working. Frank Scioscia liked his granddaughters dropping by. Sometimes they gave him a hand with shelving books or carrying boxes. They always brought these wonderful smiles in to light up riverrun.

Brajarani travelled after college. She went on to have two great children, Holly and Bilbo. She designed costumes and later became an ESL teacher. It's a job that works well with her interest in other people and in exotic climes.

Now Brajarani has settled in England. By coincidence, Mary is there too. They both read. They both write. Neither has been published yet, but they will. Mary writes enchanting stories for children and funny stuff about the mishaps of love. Brajarani writes lively travel commentary and compelling memoirs of her fascinating life. After almost 20 years, they're still dear friends. Whenever they're in NY, they still bring those wonderful smiles in to light up riverrun.

Mary Stephens Hayes at riverrun

photo by Christopher P. Stephens

June 1994 - Metropolitan Book Fair

Mary Stephens, now Mary Hayes, worked at riverrun. She and Chris Stephens made a good team. Mary's grandmother, Mary Scioscia, came down to riverrun on Tuesdays. She sat at the desk across the street, at the original riverrun, and entertained friends and fans. On Tuesdays the two Marys ate lunch together in that bookstore. They laughed and chatted and talked books.

After lunch Mary Stephens returned to 12 Washington. She filled orders, wrapped packages, and went book buying with Chris. Mary was interested in the business and she had good ideas. She became especially interested in bindings. riverrun had plenty of handsome old bindings. They whet Mary's fascination with the craft. She wentto the Memphis College of Art because it had a masters program in book binding. She left riverrun and went south. Mary's plan was to become the riverrun book binder. In the end, she followed other talents, but she did come back to New York and worked in the bookstore again. She liked working with the books and the customers. Books and customers liked her too.

Mary didn't stay at riverrun. She tried different jobs at different companies.

Now Mary is in England. She works for Phaidon Publishers. Still books.