An Oblong Long Time: Oblong Books turns 50 with Birthday Bash in Millerton

Back in 1975, Oblong Books opened its doors in Millerton with an idea for a business that was modest in size. Fifty years later, and now with a 20+ year old sister store in Rhinebeck, Oblong stands not only as one of the longest-running independent bookstores in the region, but as a deeply rooted community institution. This Saturday, August 9, from 11am to 4pm, the Millerton store is throwing a big birthday bash to mark the milestone, with live music, food trucks, games, and lots of gratitude.

Founded by Dick Hermans and Holly Nelson (who has since retired from business operations), Oblong began as a hybrid books and records shop with the goal of inspiring positive change. Today, under the stewardship of Hermans and his daughter Suzanna Hermans, it operates thriving locations in both Millerton and Rhinebeck. Over the decades, the store has weathered technological revolutions, retail upheavals, and the seismic rise of online giants like Amazon. In spite of the challenges Suzanna Hermans says Oblong remains as committed as ever to fostering a love of books, supporting local readers, and helping to sustain the cultural fabric of the towns it serves.

Dick Hermans in 1985. Photo courtesy of Oblong Books.

“I’m still trying to figure out what it all means,” Dick Hermans says. “But it's nice to get a little attention and say, ‘Oh, look what you’ve accomplished over 50 years.’”

From the beginning, Oblong was built on more than just inventory. It was about local relationships. “Even when we first started, we were never driven by the bestseller list,” he says. “We were really more interested in what folks around here wanted to read.”

In those early years, orders were placed over the phone, book identification numbers read aloud one at a time. Now, inventory systems are digital and delivery turnaround is often measured in days. “The way we interface with publishers is quite different now,” he says. “There’s more certainty about what’s in stock, and things move a lot faster. But the landscape is just different.”

That landscape has included more than a few existential threats: First the arrival of chain retailers like Barnes & Noble and Borders, then Amazon, then the proliferation of ebooks. Suzanna, who has managed and co-owned the store since returning to the business full-time in 2007, remembers each wave of disruption vividly.

Dick Hermans and Holly Nelson take their first picture in front of the future home of Oblong Books in 1975. Picture courtesy of Oblong Books. 

“The rise of Amazon was and still is a daily challenge,” she says. “They’ve devalued books and taught consumers that books shouldn’t be worth anything. But we made it through that. And then the rise of ebooks. People thought that was going to be the end of paper reading. But what we found is that people still see physical books are a good product. They’ve held up.”

Suzanna, who now oversees the store’s book buying and works with a team of managers and event staff, said the milestone has been emotional and affirming. “I grew up in the store,” she says. “I thought I’d work here for a little while after college—but I knew right away that this is what I wanted to do with my life. I love the work and getting to take the reins from my dad and learning from him has been one of the great privileges of my life.”

Events have become a defining part of the store’s evolution. In the early days, author visits were rare, typically relying on personal proximity. But as Oblong expanded, particularly after opening its Rhinebeck location in 2001, it became a recognized stop on book tours. “Publishers come to us now,” Dick says. “They know we have good venues, we draw a crowd, and we’re just 100 miles from the city.”

Big Book Birthday Blockparty 

On Saturday, August 9, Oblong will host a 50th Birthday Bash block party outside its Millerton location from 11am to 4pm. The festivities will include live music, food trucks, free face painting and henna, popcorn and lemonade, lawn games, and what Suzanna hopes will be “just a fun day for the community.” The event will take place on the side street between the main bookstore and Oblong Jr., the children’s shop, which are connected through their backyards.

“It’s a chance to thank the community for keeping us in business all these years,” she says. “And to celebrate being a tentpole business in the village.”

Dick Hermans says Oblong’s continued success is also a testament to the intergenerational nature of the business, not just in the store’s leadership but in its customer base as well. “There are people who came in as kids who now bring their own kids,” he says. “That’s always a little bit amazing to me—that we’ve done what we’ve done for this long.”

“It’s been a privilege to serve our community for 50 years,” his daughter adds. “And I’m certainly hopeful we’ll be here for another 50.”