Book Bonanza, which conducts one of the largest annual used book sales in Pennsylvania, has lost its lease at the Vanity Fair Outlet Center in Wyomissing and is in need of a new location.
Book Bonanza is seeking a retail-type site of approximately 12,000 square feet with about 500 available parking spaces and truck loading facilities.
“We are looking for a community-minded owner of a site that meets our needs to donate it for our use for at least the July sale and perhaps for the next few years. Our hope is that we can continue to provide a service to book lovers and continue to benefit local libraries and Berks County women attending colleges,” said Vicki Steinberg, Director of Book Bonanza. Anyone willing to donate the use of a site should contact: Allen Westbrook at 484-818-1659 or at [email protected].
The Outlet Center was recently sold by VF Corp. to Equus Capital Partners, Ltd. Book Bonanza currently occupies retail space on the third floor of the VF Red Building, which is to be torn down as a part of the redevelopment plans for the 34 acre site. Book Bonanza was recently notified that its lease has been cancelled effective mid-July 2017. According to Ms. Steinberg, other tenants in the Red Building were notified and expect to be moved to alternate locations on the site by June.
“Right now we are searching for a site in the Reading area where we can hold our annual sale, which is scheduled for July 13-16, 2017,” said Ms. Steinberg. “We would prefer to find a permanent location, but we realize that we may have to settle for a temporary site for this year’s sale,” she said. “We have been very fortunate to have had the use of the space donated to us by VF Corp. for the last five years. We are grateful and thank Vanity Fair for their generous community support,” Ms. Steinberg commented.
Book Bonanza is one of the largest fundraising events held annually in Berks County. Last year the sale raised over $75,000 for the benefit of Berks County libraries and for scholarships for Berks County women. Over the last ten years it has raised over $660,000, all of which has benefited Berks County. Book Bonanza is a joint venture of two non-profit organizations, the Friends of Berks County Public Libraries and the American Association of University Women-Reading Branch. Book Bonanza has been in operation since 1979. The annual sale is popular for local book lovers and for book dealers from surrounding states.
“We even end up supplying books to a book store in Chile. The owner’s parents come here every year to buy books for their son’s store,” said Ms. Steinberg. The sale typically has an inventory of over 100,000 books in dozens of genres, including collectible and local interest books. Last year over 4,500 people attended the four-day sale.
