Bookfest / lovefest continues at Shaker Square pop-up

The business of the pop-up store on the NE quadrant of Shaker Square is to sell a private collection of books, but it's clear the draw is less the books than their owner, Richard Gildenmeister.

Cries of "Richard!" ring out as longtime friends, former associates and loyal customers burst through the door ready with handshakes and hugs. They are responding to what the Plain Dealer's Karen Long called "the kindness Dickie Gildenmeister put into the world 50 years ago" when he embarked on his bookseller's career.

A measure of the stature he gained can be found in the authors' inscriptions that adorn many of the books, such as this by poet George Bilgere:

"For Richard -- Bookmeister, Book General, Bookter, Booketerator, Bookfabulous, Bookenator!"