Pandemic inspires book shop opening
(MENAFN) After nearly four decades as a specialist oncology nurse, Dawn Brewer, 60, took a leap of faith inspired by the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic — and opened an independent bookshop.
Brewer, who spent 38 years caring for cancer patients, most recently at St Helier Hospital in Sutton, said the pandemic forced her to reconsider her lifelong career. "Things got pretty rough with Covid," she said. "It made me realise that maybe nursing wasn't forever."
Her bookstore, Word on the Street, opened in Ashtead in 2021 during the uncertainty of the post-pandemic world and has since become a cherished local hub. Speaking during Independent Bookshop Week, which celebrates the vital role of indie bookstores, Brewer reflected on how a simple love of reading — and a timely business course — sparked the change.
The opportunity came when a charity shop closed down on Ashtead High Street, leaving a vacant space. Brewer and a friend saw the potential and took the risk, transforming it into a literary sanctuary. “It needed a lot of work but was in a good location, so we went for it,” she said.
Brewer made a point to cater especially to non-digital customers, many of whom are elderly and appreciate a face-to-face, screen-free experience. “There are a lot more people like that than you might imagine,” she noted.
Her shop’s success is as much about community as commerce. The store has grown so close to its regulars that staff were invited to a couple’s wedding— former customers who had bonded with the shop over books and conversation.
Though Brewer says running a bookshop comes with its share of challenges, she finds the new chapter in her life both rewarding and revitalizing. “I loved nursing,” she said, “but now I love this.”
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