Nestled among wooded hills 175 miles from Boston, off Interstate 91 near the New Hampshire border, St. Johnsbury has a classic New England town center, with brick storefronts and a town green. The retail blend on Railroad Street includes clothing stores, a sporting goods store, a pharmacy, an artisans guild shop, antique shops, banks, and restaurants.
For 27 years, there had also been Northern Lights Bookshop and Cafe, owned by Caroline DeMaio and Vanna Guldenschuh. Besides books and food, the store sold newspapers, cards, and gifts.
Four years ago, an adjoining building was devastated by fire, and Northern Lights was forced to close for four months. When it came back, many customers didn't.
"We had a hard time making it work the way we had done it before," DeMaio said. "It was a wonderful place, and I miss it as much as anybody." For several years, the owners sought a buyer, but in March they closed down.
It was a shock to Railroad Street -- like a missing front tooth, town officials say. "It was a nice place to browse for books and get a light lunch," said Joel A. Schwartz, the town's director of economic and community development. "It's really missed."
The nearest independent store is across the Connecticut River in Littleton, N.H., a 20-minute drive, and the next nearest is in Newport, 45 minutes away. Big chain stores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders are even more distant.
Since the fire, the burned-out building on Railroad Street has been rehabilitated, with 25 units of senior housing. When Northern Lights closed, Morrow and Schwartz thought of seeking a new bookstore for the 3,000-square-foot space on the first floor.
"My dream would be a warm, noninstitutional-feeling and
