The Indie Bob Spot: Pageturner's Bookstore

Pageturner's Bookstore - Indianola, IA

(Like The Indie Bob Spot on Facebook and follow The Indie Bob Spot on Twitter)

Hey Central Iowa, wake-up and smell the coffee! Yeah, I'm looking at you Des Moines and all your surrounding towns. Don't come whining to me if you can't find a bookstore when there's a perfectly fine one in your back yard of Indianola. If you haven't discovered it yet, it's time to make your move.

Pageturner's Bookstore is located on the town square of Indianola, IA, a town of approximately 14,000. This indie is another example of a bookstore that can sustain and succeed in a small town, and I've seen many like it. My consternation arises when I know how many communities that are much larger who have nothing. This indie has been open for a little over a year and it is a perfect representation of the wonderful bookstores I see in smaller towns around the country.

The store has a great corner location on the square which is very conducive for good foot traffic. You'll find new and used books all neatly arranged and organized. Bring in your used books and you'll receive a small cash reimbursement or feel free to donate your used books. This is a great way to support a local business. The space is very bright thanks to very tall windows along both sides of the building. You'll find some great, unique cards here that you won't find anywhere else since Kathy M., the owner, designed them. Other than these original cards and some jigsaw puzzles, there are few sidelines, partly due to limited space. As Kathy gets a better feel for customer preferences, you may see some other items in time. Since this indie is relatively new, decisions like additional sidelines, online sales, and author events, are all things that Kathy hopes to have happen in the future. There is a good base of supportive, local customers with occasional out-of-towners. The store is also getting a little business from the local college, Simpson.

I had a terrific chat with Kathy while I was at the store. Even though she's only been here a little over a year, she has plenty of experience since she was a bookseller for 20 years prior. She has all the qualities I see in many bookstore owners. She's friendly, knowledgeable, helpful to customers, and she has a passion for what she does.

But she has a trump card the other owners may not have. I met Pageturner's two uber customers during my visit. They would be the equivalent of season ticket holders, and nobody advocates for an owner like these two customers. Every indie needs customers like these because their support will never waver. So even if business slows, I know her parents will always be ready to get a book.

No more excuses Central Iowa. You have a great indie to check out. Take a friend and spend some time at Pageturner's Bookstore. You'll have a wonderful experience. Go to an indie and buy a book. Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED: Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson. Author's story of his fight to defend wrongly convicted prisoners on death row in our country's southern justice system. Appalling and alarming. If you're not familiar with how justice works in the south for minorities and the poor, you need to read this book. One reviewer calls this author, America's Mandela. This book is outstanding and a must read.

CURRENTLY READING: The Red Notebook, Antoine Laurain.

RECENTLY PURCHASED: My Real Children, Jo Walton.