Brattle Book Shop, a family-owned bookshop located just a block and a half from Boston Common famous for its collection of used and rare books, is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2025.
Founded in 1825 in the neighborhood of Boston that now houses city hall, Brattle Book Shop has been family-owned since 1949. In the hands of current proprietor, Ken Gloss, and his father, George Gloss, it has turned into one of the largest antique bookshops in the country. Ken Gloss, in addition to owning Brattle Book Shop, appraises books for many local universities, including Northeastern, Boston University, Harvard University, Boston College and Babson College.
Brattle Book Shop finds its home in a three-story brick building, as well as the empty lot next door, and carries a stock of over 250,000 books, prints, maps and postcards, according to its website. The shop maintains an inventory of used and out-of-print books, as well as an extensive collection of first editions, fine books and collectibles. By simply stepping in the door, a passerby is transported to a literary wonderland, surrounded by thousands of books reaching from the floor to the ceiling.
Zac Marconi, a manager at Brattle Book Shop since 2006, said the shop is known to have a strong community that attracts visitors from all around Boston and the country at large.
“Lots of students visit from both nearby universities and those farther away,” Marconi said. Recently, he said he has seen a huge uptick in people that come in after finding the bookstore on social media, “which really helps build a wider reaching community.”
The feeling of community extends beyond the welcoming staff, said long-time customer Alberto Bolanos. As a lover of bookstores, especially used bookstores, he thinks there’s something special about Brattle Book Shop.
“[It is] always so interesting to come in and find unexpected books and objects,” he said. “I wish them luck in the future as things become more and more digital and I hope that they can survive at least 200 more years.”
To Ken Gloss, the bookshop is everything; his wife jokes that he “only works half days,” getting in at 5:30 a.m. and leaving when the store closes at 5:30 p.m.
Even after decades of work, each day is still exciting for Ken Gloss. “I never know what I am going to read, the people I am going to meet, what I am going to learn at the shop each day,” he said.
A major part of the bookstore is its rich history. Ken Gloss’ parents acquired the bookstore 75 years ago with their last $500, and the store has moved locations seven times since. Each time, George Gloss would bring only the best books, selling the rest at a discount and eventually giving them away for free the day before the move.
The store is located on West Street, where it has been since 1969. Previously, it was located in a 150-year-old building that later burned to the ground. In the four years following, the Boston community rallied to keep Brattle Book Shop alive. People, including former Mayor Kevin White, donated books and helped support the Gloss family while they rebuilt in the building next door.
Some may recognize Brattle Book Shop from Alexander Payne’s movie “The Holdovers,” which features the shop in multiple scenes, or recognize Ken Gloss from his role in “Antiques Roadshow,” where he served as an appraiser in multiple episodes.
“My parents often say that my first word was book,” Ken Gloss said. Although he does not know how much truth there is in that story, one thing he knows for certain is that he has always felt at home in Brattle Book Shop.
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