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Name: Labyrinth Books

Type of business: Retail and wholesale bookstore

Address: 122 Nassau Street, Princeton

Telephone: (609) 497-1600

Web site: www.labyrinthbooks.com

Number of employees: Core staff is 12

Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Founded: 2005

Top officer: Clifford Simms, Peter Simms, Dorothea von Moltke co-owners

How would you describe your business?

“Labyrinth is an independent, locally owned bookstore for engaged readers,” said Dorothea von Moltke, co-owner. “We carry everything from fiction to art, to cooking to kids’ books, as well as a large inventory of scholarly and academic titles. We sell new books, remaindered books at great discounts, and used books.”

What makes your business special?

“Labyrinth has become known as a store where you can find both books that other bookstores have taken from their shelves and has lots of great bargains. We work hard to keep a large inventory of backlist titles, books that are otherwise hard to find, and to make them affordable.”

What goals do you have for the business?

“We hope to be able to keep doing what we do: stock lots of good books; work with excellent booksellers; and do author events and discussions in our store that are relevant to the times and the community we are in.”

How has your business changed?

“Our underlying model has re- mained the same since we opened our first store in Manhattan 12 years ago on Morningside Heights near Columbia University. Then we opened a Labyrinth Books in New Haven near Yale. We were a scholarly bookstore similar to Princeton’s Micawber Books. When the owner of Micawber Books wished to retire, Princeton University administrators approached us to become the University’s bookstore. Their U-Store, which had previously sold the university’s textbooks only, wished to sell Princeton insignia apparel, gifts, convenience foods, and cosmetics -- not textbooks. We accepted Princeton’s proposal and moved into 10,000-square-foot store on Nassau Street, our largest space.”

What was your most important deal?

“This isn’t a question that applies directly to the day-to-day of our store, though an important part of why we are able to sell so many discounted books. We have a wholesale warehouse where we buy ‘hurts’ and remainders from publishers, keeping what interests us most for our stores and Web site, and selling the rest on to other books sellers nationally and internationally. That work is certainly based on close relationships with publishers and on making good deals that allow you to pass savings on to your store customers.”

What changes do you expect in your business in the next 10 years?

“We don’t know how the chain and big box stores will affect our store in the next 10 years. More importantly, we aren’t sure of the impact of the Internet and the rise of the Kindle on the publishing industry and the changes they will create. We will be bucking the current trend and remaining as an independent bookstore by establishing an academic and community bookstore offering books for every interest. We find the Princeton community a very good fit for our store.”

What is the most important thing you’ve learned in your business?

“I’ve learned that the most important thing is to adapt to the changing times and the needs of our community. We work very hard to get feedback to know that we can bring books back into circulation that have been out of circulation. We also do tons of free programs from poetry readings to scholarly discussions on a multitude of topics in our downstairs area. This fall, for the first time, we will be starting children’s events and readings.

“The events are also open to community groups as well. For instance, we’ve worked with Homefront, an organization concerned with the homeless, student organizations, and panels. Our events are listed in the Princeton Calendar of the Princeton News Network.”

What advice would you give to someone considering your line of work?

“A love and abiding interest in books is essential, as is a passion for doing this work. It’s also important to gain experience through getting a job with a bookstore and begin learning as much as you can about the business side of books.”

Is there anything else you would rather be doing?

“No. With running two bookstores, and having a family, I don’t have time now to even consider doing anything else.”