Uptown Pitman, lined with small shops and a prominent marque overhanging Main Street, makes it easy to believe one has been transported to a yesteryear where a bookstore undoubtedly ought to reside. Thankfully, Words Matter Bookstore has filled this need.
But don’t be fooled—even as typewriters line the sill of the large, street-facing windows—Words Matter isn’t a relic of days gone by. In fact, the shop’s name itself speaks to the present. When owner, Keryl, lost her mother, she felt the acute discomfort of harsh words and the “balm” that kind and comforting words bought her—the constant reminder that words do matter. “I almost physically felt the words that were spoken to me,” she says. Moreover, the power of words is succinctly represented on her website and signage, declaring: “Your portal to the universe!”
Since opening in November 2020, Keryl has done more than said her bookstore is a portal, she has embodied it: signage directly inside the entrance invites you to join one of their six book clubs. That’s not a mistype. Six! Additionally, the store’s social media accounts regularly feature township events (many of them happening on the premise) such as poetry readings, jazz nights, book signings, fundraisers, and, of course, book clubs.
The spacious interior of the store features tables of new releases, while colorfully curated subsections line the walls. Many other spaces along the perimeter (including an antique desk and a fireplace) feature the labors of nearby artisans: notebooks, artwork, pencils, t-shirts, coloring books, mugs, candles, coffee, bookmarks. In fact, hardly a table in the place is absent items from another local creative. It smells like a Barnes & Noble, but without the corporate tang. This is the epitome of small business supporting small business.
Head to the back of the store where it opens up into a much-larger-than-expected room. (Pro Tip: there’s a parking lot with backdoor entrance leading into this room which will be rather useful on my next visit rather than attempting to parallel park on Main St.). Here, the children’s section is well-spaced to accommodate for young browsers. There are also chairs conveniently situated for the tired parents. Keryl’s not done though, and says she has ideas to expand the children’s section in the near future. And speaking of big ideas, Keryl also has plans for a summer “Bookstore Crawl” which would include a tote bag featuring many South Jersey bookstores all worth a visit. Keep an eye on this worthwhile endeavor!
Keryl’s son, Aiden, who helped me during my visit, told me that “interpersonal relationships” define what makes Words Matter stand out. He’s not wrong. While I was there, a well-paced appearance of customers came to pick up orders/preorders. The books themselves were neatly labeled and stacked behind the counter—an attention to detail that didn’t go overlooked by a fellow bookseller. And another customer came to ask about the final details of a Galentines Event. All of this evidences Words Matter’s commitment to community.
For herself, Keryl says that “each store ends up being an extension of its owner.” In the opinion of this bookseller, Keryl and by extension—Word Matter, apart from its books, is a place filled with connections. Opening in the middle of a pandemic would go against almost all traditional advice, and yet Keryl intrinsically understands that the success of Words Matter is built into those community connections where we thrive when we’re working together.
The Facts:
Location: 52 S Broadway, Pitman, NJ 08071
Hours:
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday 4:00 PM 8:00 PM
Wednesday 10:00 AM 8:00 PM
Thursday 10:00 AM 8:00 PM
Friday 10:00 AM 8:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM 8:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM 4:00 PM
Contact: 856-218-5995
Website: http://www.wordsmatterbookstore.com
Instagram: @wordsmatterbookstore
What I Got:
Never one to leave a bookstore empty-handed, I took home a new paperback copy of The Indian in the Cupboard for me and my oldest son to read together. A seminal work of my childhood, I still occasionally quote lines from the book and movie. “Plass-tick? What this plass-tick?”
Second Time Books 