World War II vet never imagined this 57-year success story

By Karen Araque

The store’s atmosphere is like few others.

Its cluster window displays cater to University of Miami students and faculty, and its small and cozy interior is full of friendly staff members eager to help.

Welcome to Book Horizons, 1110 South Dixie Hwy., across from the UM campus in Coral Gables. It opened Jan. 27, 1953, with the philosophy of providing used and new books with fast, personal service in a family atmosphere. The perpetual guarantee is that an owner or manager will always be on the premises.

The man behind both store and philosophy is Arthur Sekoff, an 87-year-old Brooklyn native and World War II veteran. After serving in the war as a technical sergeant in the U.S. Army, Mr. Sekoff worked in a New York City bookstore and discovered a passion for books.

Mr. Sekoff and his wife, Leah, moved in 1952 to Coral Gables and still live here. Married 60 years, they have three sons and six grandchildren.

“Dixie Highway in the ’50s … what a change,” says Mr. Sekoff. “There were very few businesses. It was just two lanes with trees all around; it was totally different from today. But we have always loved the beautiful city of Coral Gables. It is the perfect place to run a business and raise a family.”

Soon after moving to Coral Gables, the Sekoffs used their life savings, borrowed money from friends and family, and opened Book Horizons in 1953.

“When we first opened, I never imagined we’d still be running it for 56 years – but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world,” Mr. Sekoff said, a few weeks before the shop turned 57.

“We have students whose parents and grandparents were once customers. We are now serving three generations of customers, and we plan to continue doing so!” he said, adding that Book Horizons is one of the few family-owned college bookstores still around.

Son Will Sekoff, 43, co-owns the store with his dad and continues his parents’ philosophy of providing fast and personalized service with the help of Paul Strassburg and Angela Steinhofer, who have staffed the store for more than 30 years.

In the meantime, the elder Sekoff enjoys watching movies, working on crossword puzzles, playing with his grandchildren and traveling.

The rest of the time, he does what he really loves: working in the bookstore.

Says Mr. Sekoff: “Working with students for over 50 years has kept me young and active.”

Karen Araque is a University of Miami student majoring in public relations and psychology.