Arleen Seyfried, whose name became synonymous with the quaint Fountain Square bookshop in Somerset West, returned to her beloved Book Exchange for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
Family and friends surprised her with a birthday party at the shop last Tuesday (4 November), warmly welcoming her back to the literary haven she had nurtured for decades.
After 51 years of dedicated stewardship, Seyfried sold the beloved Somerset West Paperback Book Exchange three years ago, marking the end of an era for the community gem she had owned since 1972.
She initially bought into a partnership with the original owners and eventually became sole proprietor following her early widowhood (“Somerset West bookshop owner turns a new page,” DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 22 March 2023).
The bookshop operates on a unique exchange system, allowing customers to trade books for credit. Following the sale, it relocated to new premises in April under brief would-be co-owners Vaughan Pain and his life partner, long-time customers who wanted to preserve Seyfried’s legacy. At the time she admitted that leaving would be “one of the saddest days of my life”, as she would most miss her loyal customers and the daily joy of discovering new books in her cosy, book-scented sanctuary.
The complexity of the bookshop’s journey since Seyfried’s departure was made clear at last week’s birthday celebrations. After its relocation to a space at the front of the shopping centre, with a big glass facade facing Main Road, it moved again, this time to smaller premises close to its original location. Moreover, the business was ultimately purchased not by the intended co-owners, but by a fellow book enthusiast, Berni Caister.
“I have always been an avid reader,” she said. “As a young girl my school holidays would be filled with numerous visits to Musgrave Library [in Durban] devouring shelves of books.
“I have been living in Somerset West for 10 years and would regularly pop into the bookshop for little gems. On one particular occasion, in March 2023, I visited the bookshop looking for yoga books. Our lovely Maureen [Jordaan] was in the shop that day. Unfortunately, there were no yoga books, but she and I got chatting, and she told me the bookshop was for sale. It had been sold the previous year to somebody else, as our dear Arleen was wanting to retire. The change of hands was not successful, and Arleen was again tasked with selling her little bookshop.
“Two days after chatting to Maureen, I had tea with Arleen and the shop purchase was finalised! The best decision ever! I started in the shop on 1 April 2023, working alongside Arleen. What a privilege of gigantic proportions to carry on this wonderful little bookshop.”
According to Caister the transition has since been smooth, with Arleen maintaining a connection to the business she devoted decades to building. “Arleen has since happily retired and comes in once a week on a Friday morning to say hi to clients. Our customers are our friends and family.”
The celebration of the glorious nonegenarian’s milestone was particularly meaningful for everyone involved. “Arleen celebrated her 90th last Tuesday, and we surprised her with a birthday tea at the shop,” Caister fondly recalled. “A couple of her very loyal customers joined us along with her family. What an incredibly special lady indeed.”
For Caister the opportunity to continue her illustrious predecessor’s work represents more than just a business venture.
The sense of community that Seyfried fostered over five decades remains central to the bookshop’s identity.
“Thank you to one and all!” Caister declared in profound gratitude to the bookshop’s loyal customer base.
