Browseabout Books

by Lily Burbage

For generations of beachgoers, a trip to Rehoboth Beach hasn’t been complete without a stop at Browseabout Books. Many families visit the bookstore before heading to the beach, continuing a tradition passed from parents to children and now grandchildren.

“It’s the first place we stop when we come to the beach,” owner Susan Kehoe said customers often tell her. “We don’t even go to the beach first. We go to Browseabout first.”

That kind of loyalty doesn’t happen overnight. It has been built over five decades of welcoming customers with carefully chosen books, knowledgeable staff, and a sense of community that extends far beyond the shelves.

Browseabout opened in 1975 when founders Steve and Barbara Crane envisioned an independent bookstore in a very different Rehoboth Beach. Long before chain bookstores and online retailers transformed the industry, they created a year-round destination for readers.

Susan’s own story with Browseabout began years before she became its owner. She worked as Steve Crane’s publishing sales representative and eventually he approached her with an unexpected proposition.

“He asked me if I would be interested in taking over the store one day,” Susan said.

The opportunity prompted her move from Northern Virginia to Rehoboth Beach nearly 20 years ago. She spent 15 years managing the store before she and her husband, Matt, purchased Browseabout from the Cranes in November 2020.

Browseabout Books owner, Susan Kehoe.

Today, Susan continues the tradition established by the Cranes while adding her own vision for the future.

Walking into Browseabout feels different from shopping online, she said. Instead of scrolling through endless recommendations generated by algorithms, customers are greeted by smiling faces and staff members eager to help them discover their next favorite read.

“I really feel it’s our customer service,” Susan said. “It’s our human touch.”

Every title is selected by one of the store’s four buyers. Staff members don’t simply ring up purchases— they ask questions, make recommendations, and enjoy placing the right book into someone’s hands.

“We’re passionate about it,” Susan said.


That personal approach extends throughout the store. Whether visitors are lifelong locals, summer tourists, young children searching for their first chapter book, or adults looking for a beach read, Susan hopes everyone feels equally welcome.

“We want to cater to everyone,” she said. “We hope we have a little something for everybody.”

Browseabout has also evolved into much more than a bookstore. The business features a café where customers can enjoy a cup of coffee while browsing. Although the café isn’t the company’s primary focus, Susan recently invested in renovating the space with new cabinetry and countertops to create a brighter, more inviting atmosphere.

The timing proved fortunate. With a nearby chain coffee shop no longer operating on Rehoboth Avenue, the refreshed café has become an even more popular stop for customers looking to pair a fresh cup of coffee with a new book.

“People constantly come and tell us that we do, in fact, have the best coffee in town,” Susan said with a laugh.

Beyond its storefront, Browseabout has become deeply woven into the fabric of the Cape Region through its commitment to giving back.

The bookstore serves as the bookseller for the History Book Festival, donates books for the Cape Henlopen School District Bookmobile, sponsors Bark on the Boards for the Brandywine Valley SPCA, supports Humane Animal Partners, and contributes to dozens of other local nonprofits and organizations throughout the year.

“We donate money and time to a lot of local organizations,” Susan said.

Supporting Browseabout, she added, means supporting neighbors rather than a distant corporation.

“When you’re supporting Browseabout, you’re not supporting a corporation,” she said. “So much of our money stays right here in our community.”

Susan is equally proud of the nationally recognized authors the bookstore has brought to Coastal Delaware. Through partnerships with the Lewes Public Library and the History Book Festival, Browseabout has hosted bestselling writers including Jodi Picoult, David Baldacci, Lisa Scottoline, and Harlan Coben, drawing hundreds of readers for author talks and book signings.

As the bookstore approaches its 51st year, Susan remains focused on the same simple goal that has guided Browseabout from the beginning: creating a place where everyone feels welcome.

Asked how she hopes every customer leaves the store, her answer came without hesitation.

“Happy,” she said.

After all, for countless visitors and locals alike, Browseabout has never been just a bookstore. It’s where vacations begin, traditions continue, and every visit offers the possibility of discovering something new.