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CONTACT SCBJ John Wolcott, Editor jwolcott@scbj.com Dave Clark, Assistant Editor dclark@scbj.com

Mary Burns, Owner - The BookWorks

I was a buyer for a biotech company. I had been with a lot of start up companies but after a while they got too big and very corporate.

I moved to Arlington to get away from the traffic. That was 11 years ago.
While getting my bearings I was exploring and loved the stores on 3rd Street. I walked into BookWorks and it was for sale. It was the right place at the right time.
It’s good to get to do things my way but I have to do without a lot. I didn’t think I’d like the retail aspect of the business but I love the people. This gives me the opportunity to have my own gallery here. I’m meeting more and more artists and in the past two months I’ve sold more art than books. Despite the economy people are making that investment.

Business has been horrible and I keep wondering how I can afford to be here. But I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t.

www.marysvillebookworks.com.