New Bookstore Opening in Cairo

CAIRO - CAIRO―This spring, Better Days Books will open its doors at 515 Main Street, bringing a full-service independent bookstore to the heart of town.

The project is the vision of Erik Price and Maya Prohovnik of Purling. In collaboration with local architect Kevin Conklin of Conklin Architecture, they will transform the former tanning salon into a 1,644-square-foot bookstore designed as a welcoming retail space.

The shop will sell new books and offer reading buffs several ways to linger―from relaxing on a rear deck overlooking Angelo Canna Town Park and the Catskill Mountains, to stepping inside to enjoy a beer or a glass of wine while browsing the shelves.

Opening a bookstore has been a lifelong dream, Prohovnik said.

“It was the first job I ever had and will always be my favorite,” she said. “Who doesn’t love walking into a place like this to find their next good read?”

A key part of the project focuses on honoring Cairo’s past. The building once housed the town’s A&P grocery store and will be redesigned to resemble the original façade, restoring a familiar look to MainStreet while giving it new purpose.

Conklin emphasized the importance of preservation and revitalization in the project.

“We love the opportunity to preserve our historic MainStreet and breathe life into a new business,” Conklin said. “This project respects the building’s past while adapting it for how people want to gather today.”

Prohovnik also addressed skepticism about whether a book store can thrive in a small town, pointing to recent successes nearby.

“We’ve heard concerns about how we’re going to pull this off but just look at other local businesses like the Art Hub, Red Star, Julia’s Local or See and Be, who have transformed Cairo for the better,” she said. “It’s a clear change in this town, and we want to invest in the crossroads of the Catskills.”

Price echoed that commitment and described the atmosphere they hope to create.

“We want to walk the walk, and we have the ability to pursue this,” he said. “We’re aiming for something that’s brightly lit, yet cozy, where everything, from books to the drinks in the cooler, feels thoughtfully curated. We hope we can provide a fun and inspiring experience for people who love books and culture.”