Shopping: East Dulwich institution Chener Books

CHENER bOOKS

Miranda Peake runs Chener Books, the iconic East Dulwich bookshop. 42 years since it first opened, Miranda pays tribute to its eccentric originator John Kennedy, and reveals her secret for building a successful independent business

interview by Cara Cummings

Chener Books has existed long before I became involved. It’s a local institution, having been around for over 40 years. People are very loyal to the shop simply because it's been here so long, and because it's always had quite an eccentric character. That's largely down to John Kennedy, the original owner of Chener who started the shop in 1978.

I actually worked in the shop at least 15 years ago when I was a student. I’d been working in various other bookshops and most recently in Borders on Oxford Street, and I remember just thinking: this is just such a relief! It was such a quintessential, lovely independent bookshop and the stock was always really unusual. John was really unique in that he let his staff do all the stock ordering, so you had this amazing involvement which I’d never had working in the big chains. John was just so wonderful - incredibly generous, kind and eccentric. He died a couple of years ago and so many people came in and said how sad they were, because he was a real institution in the area - people were so used to seeing him here. He was everything you'd want in a bookshop owner.

I was so nervous about taking over. Especially since it's been here so long, I was terrified of ruining a wonderful shop. But it's been wonderful - I feel so fortunate. I’m learning on the job, but really enjoying it.

The unusual thing about Chener is that because of the way John set it up, with staff themselves dictating the character of the stock, it’s always had a very independent mindset. John was never driven by any notion of making money - not that you ever would in bookselling! - he always just wanted it to be interesting.

I think being a successful independent is about

being a shop that serves your community. Understand the demographic that you're dealing with, and you represent it. Bookshops have a function in the community; I’m realizing that more and more as we’ve started having events. It's really important to support local authors, and really lovely to do. Kate Miller, who lives just around the corner is a really brilliant poet who has a new collection this year. I haven't told her, but I’m hoping she’ll come and read at the shop... Day to day, there are so many things about running the shop that I love - like having ordered something, and then watching somebody buy it. That's really brilliant. I know I felt that when I first worked here - it soon became the best part of the job. It’s great when you love something and you're able to pass that on.