The Indie Bob Spot: Bootlegger

Booklegger, Eureka, CA

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I won’t be able to adequately articulate the fun you can have at a bookstore like the fun I had at Booklegger. I can never overstate the importance of shopping local at small businesses in your communities. I can also never overstate the experience you can have visiting a bookstore instead of just clicking a button on the internet. If I’d bought my book online I never would’ve met the Booklegger rock stars, owner Jen M., and booksellers Katie and Jen’s daughter, Sophie. But on this visit, a customer overheard me mention Iowa and wanted to know if I was anywhere near Cedar Rapids. This lead to a delightful 15-minute chat about his recent visit to Cedar Rapids and his climb up Mt. Trashmore (only Cedar Rapids people will get this) and his positive opinion of that community. So I met Peter and had a great conversation and then discovered I was talking to the former mayor of Eureka. What are the odds? And what a great guy to meet and chat with. Regular customers of Booklegger know exactly what I’m talking about when I suggest the advantage of a bookstore experience instead of purchasing online.

Booklegger has been around for 42 years and has an ideal corner location in the Old Town district. As Jen told me, a great location made even better by coffee shops on both sides of the store. Booklegger has almost all used books but carries a few recent release new ones. Customers who bring in their books can receive store credit in return. They don’t offer book sales online so that means you'll have to visit in-person to get that book (and a wonderful experience while you’re there). There are a few sidelines including touristy post cards, journals, and greeting cards to name just a few. But it’s mostly about the books here.

Jen has been involved with the store in some capacity for about 37 years and 27 of those as owner or partial owner. When I asked her what her secret was, she gave it a lot of thought and finally said, “I want to have books that are for our audience (customers) and I want it to be fun and to be passionate about it.” From my visit, I can clearly say, mission accomplished. This also explains why things are going so well here and they're doing more than just sustaining. I can tell that Jen cares a lot about her customers and her store.

Regular customers, am I right? Jen and her staff are the best. Just another example of what makes an independent bookstore so good. Keep up the good work, Eureka. Go to an indie and buy a book. Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED: The Terminal List, Jack Carr. What a ride! James Reece is the commander of an elite SEAL team that is deployed on a mission to uncover enemy targets when almost his entire team is wiped out by an ambush. His own country betrayed his team with the ambush in order to coverup a decision gone bad. This horrible mistake lights a fuse in Reece to seek revenge on the conspiracy of people who were responsible for the loss of Reece’s men. If you like political and military thrillers, this is a must read. Recommended.

CURRENLY READING: The White Umbrella, Brian Sewell.

RECENTLY PURCHASED: There, There, Tommy Orange. The Terminal List, Jack Carr.