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| Caveat Emptor, Bloomington, IN |
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Hey indie owners, I found the surefire recipe for you to rake in the money with your next sideline idea. 1) Move or own a store in a college town with a football team. 2) Make sure the football team has a really good coach. 3) Cross your fingers that your team makes it to the national championship but before the game, cross your fingers and hope for a win and order lots of championship merch to get the jump on all the other local businesses. The result? As soon as the Hoosiers won the championship and the bars in downtown Bloomington closed, Caveat Emptor was ready with all Hoosier championship items for sale outside the store. Co-owner Dayna T. struck gold with this business decision and as she told me, they had their best week in one night.
Caveat Emptor has been a Bloomington institution since 1971, an incredible accomplishment deserving of national recognition. Just as remarkable is the fact that Dayna and her husband are only the 3rd owners of the business originally founded by five individuals, one of whom works part-time in the store today. It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that Dayna rescued the store from extinction when you hear the story of Caveat Emptor looking for new ownership.
Caveat Emptor has an excellent location on the downtown square compatible with busy foot traffic. The store offers all used books shelved mostly in two long aisles front to back and floor to ceiling. Toward the back of the store you’ll find several side rooms for specific genres. There aren’t many sidelines but you can find a good variety of Hoosier gear as well as some store merch. Customers who bring in their books can receive store credit or cash in return but store credit is always the better deal. This indie also acquires books at local estate sales, often from people associated with the university. You can also purchase books online but these are usually the higher priced rare or collectible editions.
Hands down, the best experience is always with the people I meet on this journey. Owners like Dayna and customers like retired teacher and magician Tom who I met here, make visits like this truly memorable. Thanks to people like these for making today a terrific bookstore experience, one that has been enjoyed for generations in this vibrant Midwest college town. Go to an indie and buy a book. Bonsoir.
JUST FINISHED: The Firm, John Grisham. I read this decades ago but decided to reread it when Grisham’s follow-up to this book was recently released. It still holds my attention all these years later and I still feel it is one of his best legal thrillers. Highly recommended. The Exchange, John Grisham. You don’t have to read The Firm to read this one and I really wouldn’t label it as a sequel. Main character Mitch McDeere is 15 years older after his close call in The Firm and is now dealing with a new episode of corruption involving bad actors in the Mideast. This one’s good, but not as good as The Firm.
CURRENTLY READING: The Hummingbird’s Daughter, Luis Alberto Urrea.
RECENTLY PURCHASED: God’s Little Acre, Erskine Caldwell. Trouble In July, Erskine Caldwell. Not purchased but gifted, my very own Caveat Emptor t-shirt. Thanks Dayna!
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| And serving generations of regular customers. |
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| Storefront and building. |
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| Boy, did they make a great deal on this. Way to go Caveat Emptor! |
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| Just inside the store entryway. |
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| Every independent bookstore is true to this. |
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| Go over to the left side of the store for this terrific view for browsing. Notice the books are floor to ceiling, front of the store to the back. |
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| View looking to the right from the front entrance. |
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| Just a few of the bargain books available, just inside the front entrance. |
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| ALWAYS ask your bookstore about gift cards or gift certificates. |
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| This is the right side of the store looking from the front toward the back. |
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| Caveat Emptor offers lots of championship items. |
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| They offer store merchandise like these coffee mugs and they also have a variety of store t-shirts. |
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| Some of the Hoosier and championship items available. |
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A great place to sit and sample a book or two. |
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| Act now! Supplies limited! |
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| These are called Big Little Books, published and popular back in the 1930s. Look for these at the checkout counter. When they first came out you could get them for 10¢. Very unique. |
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| There are several side rooms on the right side of the store toward the back. This is looking into the music and film room. |
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| Looking into the drama and poetry room. |
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| Looking into the art and crafts room I like that each room has a chair so you can sit and take your time. |
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| Overview of the store looking from the back toward the front entrance. |
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| More books can be found in the hallway at the back of the store. |
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| I recently read this book and can recommend it. I found two more by this author here. |
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| With Dayna, the fine owner at Caveat Emptor. Thanks for a great visit. |
