Joe Baglia performs at Walk a Crooked Mile Books

You have to give Greg Williams credit for doing his best to create a fun event at his Walk a Crooked Mile Books store on Friday night. Very few people came out but that didn’t stop him from pulling hundreds of books out to sell and booking musician Joe Baglia for dozen or so neighbors that stopped by.

Williams opened the book store in 1994 inside the Mt. Airy Train Station at 7423 Devon St. He regularly features musicians to both attract potential customers but also because he likes bringing the community together. His customers love him for it.

Once when he faced nearly going out of business he sent an email to his customers explaining that his rent bills were more than he could cover and that he was in dire straits. His loyal base rushed in and on a single day gave him his best sales day in 15 years.

In an age of dwindling independent book stores, Williams faces challenges but his efforts to create community events are at the heart of what makes Mt. Airy special.