By AMY SOWDER
Behind the garland-framed windows of Bedford Books, Fran Hauser turned from embracing a friend and neighbor to greeting someone she hadn’t met yet.
It was Dec. 12 — grand opening day of Bedford Village’s first bookshop.
All around Hauser, visitors gravitated toward her chosen books and tchotchkes in the cozy shop softened by jute rugs, the red letter “B” bookcase, a cowhide lounge chair and accent pillows embroidered with sayings such as “Too much of a good thing is wonderful.”
Children and adults filled their cups with Mast Market cocoa from a fountain next to the biographies and her uncle’s wooden sculptures. Atop the wraparound checkout counter with gift-laden shelves, Graze New York charcuterie platters added color to a tray of white wine.
A few days before this hoopla heated up, Hauser sat down to reflect on how her dream of opening a community bookshop became a reality — in only two months.
“I made the decision to do this in October,” said Hauser, a best-selling author, leadership expert, female startup investor and co-host of the “Bookbound” podcast, a guide to help launch nonfiction authors. Hauser’s published books include “The Myth of the Nice Girl” and “Embrace Your Work, Love Your Career.”
The timing for opening a bookshop wasn’t ideal.
Also in October, Hauser cemented a Penguin Random House deal for her third book, “20 Minutes is the New Hour.” The former Fortune 500 executive had upcoming speaking engagements, building upon her roster of talks at more than 200 organizations, including Meta, Google, Unilever and NPR.
But true to her forthcoming third book, Hauser decided she would make the time to open Bedford Books when an owner of La Maison Fête called to say they were moving out of the 13 Court Road space, and it could be a great opportunity for her.
“There’s never a perfect time. I just realized if I didn’t do it, I would always regret it,” Hauser said. “It’s just in me to connect, gather and create an environment for people to support each other and connect with each other.”
So Hauser made arrangements and soon found herself ordering 3,400 copies of books for her curated sections for bestsellers, new releases, children, young adults, local authors, general fiction, memoirs, romance, nonfiction, thrillers, fantasy, classic literature, and more.
About two weeks before the grand opening, at least 40 local residents volunteered their time to help unpack, sort and shelve more than 100 boxes of books.
“People I don’t even know helped,” Hauser said. “The amount of support from the community has been amazing.”
Starting in the new year, Bedford Books will host events, including a salon series, author talks and meet-and-greets in the back of the shop near the suede sofa and coffee table covered with books by local authors.
“I’m so thankful to see my books and my friends’ books championed by Fran, and even more thankful that my kids will have such a special place to gather with their friends and to find new books to spark their imaginations,” said Katie Sise Sweeney, author of “The Vacation Rental,” among other adult and young adult novels.
At the grand opening, Rob Oden of Bedford scanned the nonfiction shelves after spotting a few art books he was considering.
“I wasn’t sure, outside of books, what they’d have, and I’m delighted,” he said. “I found a sweatshirt for my sister or niece.”
The shop also offers journals, candles, change purses, essential oils, magnets, totes, small toys, and coffee mugs with messages such as “The Book Was Better.”
“It’s really a miracle this came together,” Hauser said, mentioning the inventory management system, workers comp, payroll, banking and other behind-the-scenes necessities. “The thing that scared me the most was finding the right people to work here in two months.”
Oden’s daughter, Eleanor, was hired as a store clerk. On opening day, she rang up Deanna Marano, co-founder of La Maison Fête, who bought “The Wedding People” by Alison Espach. Clutching her book, Marano smiled and said, “I’m a wedding planner, so I had to.”
Hauser’s longtime relationships with authors, businesses, and parenting and neighborhood communities helped her accomplish this feat so fast.
“Fran’s bookstore is a literary gift to the Bedford community, and I can’t think of a better person to be running it than Fran herself,” said Elisabeth Weed, a Bedford resident and literary agent at The Book Group in Manhattan. “She’s so smart, engaged and a genuinely good human. And now, no one has to order a book from Amazon ever again.”
Hauser’s local roots run deep, shortly after her birth in Reggio Calabria, Italy. She immigrated as a toddler to Mount Kisco with her father, a stonemason, and her mother, a tailor, and became the oldest of several siblings. Amid a career trajectory taking her from Coca-Cola and Time Inc. to Penguin Random House, Hauser and her husband, a volunteer Bedford firefighter, moved to Bedford 25 years ago to raise their family.
Hauser also makes time to read at least 50 books a year, and bookshops are her happy place. “I really see this as a gathering place. It’s important to me that it feels like you’re at home,” said Hauser, pointing out the “fur ball” cushion seats and a bowl of red foil-wrapped Lindt Lindor chocolate truffles nestled among the books by local authors.
Moments later, a couple tapped on the front window of the not-yet-opened shop, waving their arms in celebration.
“This happens all day long. It’s the cutest thing. I don’t even know them,” Hauser said, her eyes welling up. “I get teary; they get teary. It’s so emotional. There’s something about a bookstore. It’s like the heart of a town.”
Bedford Books is located at 13 Court Road, Bedford. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit hello@bedfordbooks.shop or call 914-688-5857.
The local authors table. Elliott van Erk with Carol Caruana in the children's book section of Bedford Books. Deanna Marano with clerk Eleanor Oden. AMY SOWDER PHOTOS