Opening bookstore in West Springfield makes for A New Chapter for former corrections officer
WEST SPRINGFIELD — When Scott Szaban hung up his badge after a 20-year career with the Connecticut Department of Correction, the 52-year-old veteran officer began writing the next chapters of his life.
"I started working as an administrative assistant for an orthodontist," he told The Republican, admitting the job barely made him smile.
As a child, Szaban said he was an avid reader, tearing through books as quickly as his parents could buy them. As an adult, he began purchasing up to 15 books a week.
"It can be an addiction," he said. "On my days off and in my spare time, I was going to bookstores and I finally said, 'I can do this. I can open my own store.'"
The Springfield man has now left dentistry to become his own boss, literally opening A New Chapter, which is the name of his new bookstore in West Springfield.
The shop carries more than 3,000 books — including new releases — in an array of genres, from horror and cooking to spicy romance, fantasy and a children's section that includes the actual Hardy Boys books he read as a child.
"I would read a book a day as a kid and still played outside. But in my downtime, I had my nose in a book," he said.
The cozy shop on Elm Street features a Christmas tree in the window, but a Valentine's Day theme has bumped garland and candy canes.
Greenery winds its way around walls near the ceiling. While the ornaments are gone, the white lights are still blinking.
The centerpiece of it all is a comfy couch for reading, visiting or drinking coffee, which he offers for free.
Szaban doesn't sell books online and has distant plans for a website. But if someone comes in the door looking for a specific title, he walks them to where it appears on a shelf and if it isn't in stock, he says he can have it from his suppliers in two days.
In an era of instant gratification where books can be downloaded on demand, he says his customers don't mind waiting.
"What customers love is the individualized attention they're getting from me that they can't get in big box stores. They love the fact I'm a smaller store," he said.
Scott Szaban standing outside his new bookstore, A New Chapter, in West Springfield. (Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican)Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican
Because he is an independent bookseller, Szaban can do what he wants, like creating a special section for local authors and inviting them to sign and sell books in the store while meeting their readers.
Jackie Vermette of Ludlow was among the first to appear, showcasing her new book, "Sweet Caroline and Hot Flashes," a comedic memoir about menopause, midlife, having adult children and caring for elderly parents.
Ludlow author Jackie Vermette paging through her new book, "Sweet Caroline and Hot Flashes," at A New Chapter bookstore in West Springfield. (Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican)Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican
"I did reach out to Barnes and Noble, but it's a tough nut to crack," she said in an interview.
"When you have a little, independent bookstore, you can speak to the owner. They let you be part of the community. They let you bring your books and they help you flourish," she said.
The resurgence of small, independent bookstores is a bit of a page turner. Since 2020, the number of book shops in the U.S. jumped by 70%. In 2025 alone, more than 400 new bookstores opened, according to a report published in Fast Company .
After slumping for two years, print sales rose 1% in 2024, to 782.7 million, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
"People are wanting to be in a store to look at a book, flip through the book and read about it," said Vermette.
Readers also want to meet authors like Heidi Colonna, a 50-year-old author from Westfield, who recently appeared at A New Chapter and signed copies of "Girls' Christmas."
At A New Chapter bookstore in West Springfield, Westfield author Heidi Colonna points to a picture of herself on the cover of her new book "Girls' Christmas." (Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican)Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican
Her book is based on the true story of Colonna and her sisters traveling to Block Island, Rhode Island, an excursion that helped them grieve the loss of their mother.
"That's where she took us for 30 years on her boat. The island, for me, is synonymous with my mother. When we boarded the ferry to get home, I felt happy for the first time. We had gotten out of a funk," she said.
Colonna added it was exhilarating to meet readers and tell them about her mother first-hand.
"It's extremely important to have a place you can walk into and shake someone's hand and say, 'Hello, here's a story I wrote,'" said Colonna.
"It feels great to bond with strangers. It feels like your world opens up. You develop a sense of community and it's a really beautiful thing," she added.
Szaban has plans to host after-hours events like Bingo Night, which he inaugurated this month. Winners can receive gift cards to the store worth between $20-$100. Everyone gets a discount on purchases when the games end.
He advertised his first Bingo Night on social media and said the response was so strong, he had to call bingo back for a second evening.
"I had to cut it off at 53 people. There were so many people that were interested, we're doing a second night on Feb. 11," he said.
While some customers will always want to buy online and have books shipped to their home, Szaban reports business has been brisk, even as shoppers use their phones to find cheaper versions of what he is selling.
"I see people on their phones trying to find out if a book is cheaper somewhere else. But in the end, they want to support local versus Amazon, even if they know they're paying a few dollars more," he said.
Szaban tries to return the favor by offering a loyalty program, hosting up to five local authors a month and buying whatever he can from local vendors.
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