What is the importance of Horace's Bookshop in the novel, On the Rooftop?

Horace's bookshop is a fixture in the Fillmore community. It once belonged to Horace's father, but despite his sentimental attachment, Horace initially considers Belmont's offer to buy it. Esther convinces him not to give it up, as the bookshop is important to her, too. It is the only place that Esther feels allowed to be herself because while she is working at the shop, she can forget all of her musical, vocational, and familial concerns.