By Wildert Marte
HOBART — Not long ago, I had the chance to speak on the phone with Don Dales, the founder of Hobart Book Village in Delaware County. Even though I haven’t visited the village myself, our conversation and what I read in The Guardian helped me understand what makes this small town in the Catskills such a special place. It’s known as the Book Village of the Catskills, and over the years it’s become a real destination for people who love books and want to explore something different. I first came across Hobart while reading an article in The Guardian. It explained how the town used to be filled with empty storefronts and very little foot traffic. Don saw an opportunity that most people did not. He had the idea to turn Hobart into a book town something similar to Hay on Wye in Wales, which is filled with bookstores and has become famous for it. He bought up some of the unused buildings on Main Street and began leasing them to people who wanted to start their own bookstores. He wasn’t just trying to sell books—he was trying to bring life back into the town.
In the early 2000s Dales opened the first bookstore in one of those old buildings. He told me that Hobart didn’t have many businesses at the time and things were quiet. A lot of people had given up on the town but he hadn’t. He believed that books could change the way people saw the place. And he was right. Slowly, other bookstores opened too. According to The Guardian, by 2015 there were six bookstores in Hobart. Each one had a different focus some were about rare books, others had art or children’s books, and one even focused on vintage cookbooks. There was also a shop that specialized in local history. It became the kind of town where you could spend hours just browsing and finding something new every time. When I asked Dales about how it all came together, he made it clear that it didn’t happen fast. There were definitely setbacks, and things moved slowly at first. But he wasn’t interested in quick results. He shared advice that stuck with me, especially as a business major. He said something he learned from Warren Buffett: “Look at the long-range aspect and forget the short-range.” That line really made me think. In school and life, it’s easy to get caught up in wanting fast success. But Dales’ approach was about patience and believing in a bigger idea even when things don’t happen right away.
I also asked Dales if he had any book recommendations just something he personally enjoyed or thought was worth reading. He told me to read Sherlock Holmes. It wasn’t some big business lesson or strategy book. He just said it was a good read and that the way Sherlock notices little things can help train your mind to be more observant. I thought that was interesting. Sometimes the best advice isn’t complicated its just about sharpening how you think.
Reading The Guardian article and talking with Dales showed me how one idea can actually change a place. Hobart isn’t just full of bookstores now. It also has antique shops, a cafe, and community events like author readings and book festivals. It turned into a place that people want to visit. That all started with someone who saw value in something small and worked to bring it to life. The biggest thing I took away from the conversation is that business doesn’t have to be just about money. He didn’t start Hobart Book Village to get rich, but to make a difference and build something that could last. It reminded me that a business can help a community, create experiences, and bring people together. That’s something I hope to do one day too. Even though I haven’t been to Hobart yet, I feel like I’ve already gotten a sense of what it’s all about. I’m planning to read Sherlock Holmes like Dales suggested some time in the future, and im keeping his advice in mind as I think about my future. Taking your time, focusing on the long term, and staying true to your own path that’s what helped him change a town, and maybe one day it’ll help me build something meaningful too.
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