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Harvard Square Welcomes Rodney's Bookstore

Clubs and Organizations

August 30, 2023

From: Harvard Square Business Association

The Harvard Square Business Association is delighted to welcome Rodney's Bookstore to Harvard Square, opening on September 1st at 23 Church St.

Owner, Shaw Taylor, named his bookstores after his dog, Rodney. He is excited to be opening this used book store which is “filled with a lot of everything including; classics, fiction, art, architecture, history, poetry, music and much more. If you have a favorite subject or author, you can find it at Rodney’s Bookstore. We invite you to come in, explore and enjoy the wonder of a used bookstore that has something for everyone."

Shaw has been in the book business for 30 years. He opened his first Rodney’s Bookstore on Main street in Hyannis, Cape Cod in 1996. Rodney’s second location was on Massachusetts Ave. in the heart of Central Square in Cambridge. It opened in 2000 and continued until it was forced to close after more than 20 years. (Rodney’s also had a third location for five years in Brookline’s Coolidge Corner).

When asked about what he thinks about opening the new store in Harvard Square, Shaw said, “Thank God! - having closed in the midst of the COVID outbreak, I waited until just recently to begin my search for a new location and was so glad to be able to obtain this location at 23 Church St.” 

Shaw said, "Sometimes people come into the store and ask to speak to Rodney who passed in 1996 after a long life and was a fixture in the Hyannis store. I always say, “You can try, I had him for 14 years but he never talked to me! However, he continues to live on through the bookstore and through each book we sell that brings adventure, happiness, and insight into people’s lives."

Rodney’s will be open Monday-Saturday (noon to 9pm) and Sundays (noon to 8pm). Shaw and his employees look forward to welcoming you to the store and to being a part of Harvard Square for many years to come.