provided to The Santiva Chronicle
In April, MacIntosh Books + Paper moved from its location at Palm Ridge Place to a new storefront at 2340 Periwinkle Way in Village Shops on Sanibel Island. The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce helped celebrate the occasion with a ribbon cutting at the new store on Thursday, Aug. 5.
A Sanibel Island tradition since 1960, MacIntosh first opened on Periwinkle Way near the causeway and served as a center of information and reading materials for visitors arriving to the islands. The original owner, William “Mac” MacIntosh, an avid birder, later moved the store farther west on Periwinkle. Through a series of owners and other locations, it retained its reputation for local authors and books, great beach reads, and top-sellers.
In 2017, the current owner, Rebecca Binkowski, purchased it at a different Periwinkle Way location after working as manager for six years for then-owner Susie Holly.
“We have a legacy of great customer service, great recommendations, and, really, being a sacred, communal space for people,” says Binkowski. “What worked in 1960 still works today, and our customers appreciate our knowledge and care. I always say it takes a village and now we’re in the Village Shops, which is such a lovely mix of small, hands-on business owners, who, like me, want to offer their customers the best of the best and an experience they won’t soon forget.”
Besides selling books of a local nature and wider scope, plus distinctive stationery products and gifts, MacIntosh hosts monthly book clubs and author appearances.
“We congratulate Rebecca and her team on their progression to a beautiful, welcoming spot that furthers the islands’ cultural and retail acumen,” said John Lai, chamber president and chief executive officer. “MacIntosh is a locally owned island institution that we are happy to see thrive in this climate of big-box and online bookstores.”
“I’m so happy to be part of the Chamber and appreciate all that they do to support the island community,” said Binkowski. “Sanibel is such a special place, as you already know, and the good folks at the chamber are so helpful in supporting our specific concerns and causes to Sanibelians and beyond. I’m really looking forward to getting more involved in the coming years.”
ABOUT SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. With more than 460 active Chamber members from both islands and businesses from Lee and Collier counties, the Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. The Francis P. Bailey, Jr., Chamber Visitor Center is located at the entrance to Sanibel Island and welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year. VISIT FLORIDA named the visitor center one of 13 official Florida Certified Tourism Information Centers in the state. It is open 365 days a year and provides comprehensive information about things to do, places to visit, and where to stay, shop, and dine. The chamber website sanibel-captiva.org receives more than 1.3 million website visits per year.
For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact Landen Drake, communications and marketing manager, at 239-472-8255 or Landen@sanibel-captiva.org.
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