A reader browses the titles on display at the newly opened Ananda Publishers showroom in BE Block. Picture by Sudeshna Banerjee

Ten days ago, Ananda Publishers, one of the biggest publishers of Bengali books belonging to the ABP Group, has opened doors in Salt Lake. The 200sq ft store is located next to Tank no. 4, at BE 24.

“We knew there would be a lot of potential in Salt Lake. We have a scheme whereby books ordered over phone may be home-delivered if the amount is Rs 300 or more. We got a lot of response to this scheme from readers of Salt Lake,” says Subir Mitra, publisher-managing director of Ananda Publishers.

The Salt Lake outlet is the 27th exclusive Ananda Publishers store. “In Calcutta, so long we had stores in Gariahat, Bagha Jatin, College Street and Dunlop. One in Lake Town opened this January. But we have long felt a need to be present in Salt Lake. In fact, one outlet is not sufficient for the entire township. In future, if we get the scope, we would like to open a second store at the other end,” Mitra added.

Soon after author Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay opened the store on Wednesday, a sizeable number of inquisitive people dropped by. “Passersby keep coming in on seeing our signboard. All of them may not be buying immediately but they are making enquiries about our schemes,” said the man at the counter on Saturday.

Papia Choudhury of BD Block was one such resident who spent half an hour browsing the racks at the store on Saturday, in search of a collection of ghost stories.

Satyajit Ray merchandise on sale at the Ananda Publishers showroom

“All these years I had to go to College Street to buy books for myself. Books make great gifts too. I have heard Ananda has opened in Lake Town but even that was proving to be too far to travel to. Ever since I learnt about this store opening in our backyard, I was planning to drop by. It will really be very convenient,” said the lady whose favourite authors are Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay and Suchitra Bhattacharya.

Salt Lake does have a couple of bookstores in City Centre but their collection of Bengali books is scant.

The store is offering books worth Rs 50 on a bill of Rs 200 to Rs 299. For Rs 300 to Rs 399, the free books amount to Rs 75, for Rs 400 to 499 it is Rs 100, and so on. “We will also bring English books on order,” said the storekeeper.

The store also stocks Feluda and Professor Shonku T-shirts and caps.