Moonlight brings out the best at Tatnuck
By David Bagdon Publisher

Left: Harry Potter fans showed up en masse at the book release party at Tatnuck Bookseller during Midnight Madness July 20.

Westborough - The Westborough Shopping Center was bustling with activity July 20. Attendees enjoyed a performance by local musical favorite "Tailspin" while shopping the plaza for great bargains. No place was busier than Tatnuck Bookseller due to the highly anticipated midnight release of the final Harry Potter book.

In all several thousand customers came to enjoy the book release party, which featured costume contests, live performances, face painting and even live owl demonstrations. In the end, more than 1,000 Harry Potter fans held out to be the first on their block to pick up the wildly popular book at midnight.

According to Eugene Colangelo, president of Westborough Books Inc., it was a sight rarely seen in the world of retail.

"Despite the fact that the store is very large, at over 30,000 square feet, it was standing room only for the entire night," Colangelo said. "I knew we had done something right when my 87-year-old mother called me the next day to ask why several of her neighbors couldn't even get into the store ... It was just that busy."

Right: At Julio's Liquors, "The McGillicaddy" ambulance was a fun attraction provided courtesy of Dr. McGillicuddy's Spirits. Julio's Liquors entertained a substantial crowd all night with wine and product samplings.

Colangelo went on to say that it was his mother who saw the potential of building a shopping center in Westborough nearly 40 years ago.

"I don't think she, or any of us, could have imagined this town's potential and what a strong location this would become," he said.

Left: John and Jennifer Antkowiak of Oxford dressed the malevolent Lucius Malfoy and prescient Professor Trelawney. Malfoy came in first in the costume contest, as judged by applause, and was even asked for an autograph. Below: Toi Fiore of Westborough dressed Daisy Dodderidge, the first landlady of the Leaky Cauldron, a famous pub in Harry Potter books. She won third prize in the costume contest.