OAKMONT (KDKA) — The Bookmobile backs up to the door of the Mystery Lovers Book shop in Oakmont. Owner Richard Goldman boxes up more than 150 new books, donated by customers to the Allegheny County Library Association.

It’s one of many activities he and his wife, Mary Alice Gorman, have sponsored since they opened the book store 21 years ago.

“We know the books,” Goldman says, explaining the reason for their success. “We know where everything is. And we know what will match up with the reader.”

The little nook has survived literary upheavals that put many independents out of business. Their website, www.mysterylovers.com, has built a national clientele.

The mystery loving couple worked at the shop six days out of seven. Meanwhile, their out-of-town grandchildren weren’t getting any younger. On Valentine’s Day, reluctantly, they put the local landmark up for sale.

“We fulfilled all our dreams and more,” says Goldman. “And we’d like to find somebody else who has their own dreams of a book store, that we can help them fulfill.”

He says independent book stores are filling the void, as big chains go down.

“People like books in book stores. And people like shopping in them, and talking to people that like books.”