6th January 2012

ILMINSTER: Change of pace for new bookshop family

THE MOST recent addition to the independent shops of Ilminster is the Ilminster Book Shop, previously the Ile Valley Bookshop in Silver Street.

Canadian former solicitor Drew Belobaba, together with his wife Ileana and four-year-old son Jack have moved into the town for the lifestyle.

They already had a bigger book shop in Surrey which they bought two years ago while Drew was being the househusband and his wife went back to work.

He saw the Ilminster shop for sale in the press and sold his house in Canada, managing to get the new shop refurbished to open two weeks before Christmas. There are traditional dark wooden shelves and big cosy armchairs to encourage browsers.

He said: “It is still a work in progress but we have made the ceiling higher and opened it up so the light comes in from the back windows . Everyone has been very welcoming and this is clearly a well-read community, they have very eclectic interests. We are listening to what people want and trying to stock accordingly but can get most titles within a day or two.

“Also with a large percentage of elderly readers, we offer a delivery service in case they can’t get out and want to offer a discount for book club readers. We are still stocking the children’s section and have a lot more to come. Local interest and history books sell well.”

Ironically the move has enabled Mr Belobaba to become more of a reader himself as the shop is smaller and life less hectic in Ilminster - the change of pace he had hoped for his family.

He hopes young Jack will shortly join one of the local schools but at the moment he happily hangs out with dad at the shop.

PICTURE: CHANGE OF PACE - Drew Belobaba and son Jack at the Ilminster Book Shop