{"id":953,"date":"2018-12-31T14:53:00","date_gmt":"2018-12-31T14:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/?p=953"},"modified":"2018-12-31T14:53:00","modified_gmt":"2018-12-31T14:53:00","slug":"2017-top-eleven-readers-favorite-texas-bookstores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/?p=953","title":{"rendered":"2017 Top ELEVEN Readers\u2019 Favorite Texas Bookstores"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Texas readers have spoken. <\/span>Nearly 2,500 of Lone Star Literary Life\u2019s readers have cast ballots in 3 rounds of our statewide contest during May 2017 to recognize Texas\u2019s favorite bookstores. Their final selections are as diverse as the state itself, and honorees include big indies, small indies, chain stores, used bookstores, and new bookstores in every corner of the state. And in the process, we were pleased to learn about places to buy books that we hadn\u2019t even known before.<\/p>\n

From the major cities of Dallas and Houston, to our state\u2019s capitol city, from the historic Hill Country to the Piney Woods of East Texas, from the burbs to the beach, Texas bookshops are connecting with their communities. (Note that there was a tie for #6!) We are thrilled to showcase them in our second annual Lone Star Literary Life Readers\u2019 Favorite Texas Bookstores \u2014 all 11 of them.<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>#1\u00a0\u00a0 South Padre Island: Paragraphs on Padre Boulevard<\/h1>\n

5505 Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island, TX (3 miles north of the Queen Isabella Causeway)
www.facebook.com\/ParagraphsOnPadreBoulevard\/<\/p>\n

Owners: Joni Montover and Griff Mangan<\/span><\/p>\n

Opened February 9, 2009<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>As avid readers and members of the American Booksellers Association<\/span> we are fairly familiar with most genres of books but most of all we love to talk about books and welcome our customer\u2019s suggestions and recommendations. We also pride ourselves on being active in the community and able to make recommendations for places to go, things to do and see, or where to eat and drink \u2013 we believe part of our role is to make sure visitors to South Padre Island have a wonderful and memorable vacation experience and so we welcome questions about the area \u2013 including the approximate time table for the free island shuttle.<\/p>\n

We host numerous books signings and are happy to allow many self-published authors the opportunity to interact with potential readers in person. Based on participation and interest we have a Children\u2019s Storytime, monthly book club, writer\u2019s group, play reading group, and have hosted a variety of craft classes and art demonstrations. We are also a venue for the Valley International Poetry Festival every April.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (<\/span>Right: Griff Mangan and Joni Montover, owners \u2014along with resident Shih Tzus; photo courtesy of Paragraphs on Padre Boulevard)<\/span><\/p>\n

We welcome groups to use our store for small gatherings or as a place to meet and discuss issues important to the community. We support many of the area\u2019s non-profit organizations with our membership and sponsorships of their fund-raising events including the El Paseo Arts Foundation, Sea Turtle Inc., Surfrider\u2019s Foundation, and the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center. For several years we have sponsored a visiting author program with our local university. We continue to reach out and are anxious to find ways to work more efficiently with our local school districts. We donate books to the Boys and Girls Club.<\/p>\n

Does staff assist in recommendations either in-store, on website, or social media? That is what we do best \u2013 recommend books. Since we like to read almost anything, including the back of cereal boxes \u2013 we will discover your interests and then help select the perfect book for your next beach read or for that special gift. We also are willing and patient enough to try to find something even the most reluctant reader will enjoy. We have an active presence on Facebook. We provide information to several local papers and currently do a book review\/recommendation column for the Coastal Current.<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>As longtime visitors to South Padre Island we finally made a decision to move here and fulfill a lifetime dream of Joni\u2019s to open a bookshop. With our home located across the courtyard from the store we honestly feel like every time a customer walks into the store we are welcoming them into our home. So if you plan to come south for your beach vacation don\u2019t weigh yourself down carrying books. If you have a particular title you would like to read, give us a call and we will make sure it is here waiting for you upon your arrival. Or please, just stop in and say hello.<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>#2\u00a0 Frisco: Barnes & Noble #2060, at Stonebriar Centre<\/h1>\n

2601 Preston Rd., Ste. 1204, Frisco, TX 75034\u00a0\u00a0 http:\/\/store-locator.barnesandnoble.com\/store\/2060<\/p>\n

Store Manager: Jamie Lockhart<\/span><\/p>\n

Community Business Development Manager: Nicole Caliro<\/span><\/p>\n

Opened August 2000<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>We have a group of diverse booksellers<\/span> working in our store who are passionate about connecting readers with new books and new authors they will adore. If you ask each of our booksellers their favorite book, no one book will be alike (though we pretty much all love Harry Potter).<\/p>\n

Literary and community outreach efforts in store: In addition to hosting over 100 in-store events in 2015, BN Stonebriar serves Frisco, Prosper, Little Elm, and Celina ISDs, as well as several private schools and non-profits.\u00a0 We work hard to make sure we are always at the disposal of our local school districts and that all educators have a place to come and feel the love during our seasonal Educator Appreciation Events.<\/p>\n

Above right: Store employees gather with coauthors Jenna Hager Bush and Laura Bush during an signing for Our Great Big Backyard in 2016. Below left: There\u2019s always something fun happening and Barnes & Noble at Stonebriar Mall!<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Local Weekly Storytimes are held Thursdays at 11am; National Storytimes are held Saturdays at 11am.<\/p>\n

We have a daily bookseller recommend on Facebook, as well as instagram guessing games exploring the hypothetical reading lists of famous literary characters and pop culture icons. We are proud to serve one of the fastest-growing communities in the country.\u00a0 It is a privilege to share our love of reading with customers of all ages and bring storytimes, national events, and quality authors to the community.\u00a0 As booksellers, our greatest joy is putting the right book in the hands of the right reader, whether it be school reading, a gift for a loved one, or a newly discovered gem recommended by one of our booksellers- the art of bookselling and passion for reading is alive and well in this North Texas hamlet.<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>#3 Kerrville: Wolfmueller\u2019s Books<\/h1>\n

229 Earl Garrett, Kerrville, TX 78028\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 www.wolfmuellersbooks.com<\/p>\n

Owners: Jon and Sandy Wolfmueller<\/span><\/p>\n

Opened: 1984<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>Located in downtown Kerrville, with 3,000 square feet of space on the main floor and a bargain basement, Wolfmueller\u2019s has a well-curated stock\u00a0 of collectible and rare books\u00a0 with special interest in Texana (of all genres). We also have very nice selections of\u00a0 History, Civil War, Natural History, Fiction (many rare and\/or signed) and many more subject areas. Children\u2019s books are located in the bargain basement. We also carry a small selection of new books that relate to what we stock or are of local interest. We have books for the everyday reader or the serious collector.<\/p>\n

Please stop in for a visit \u2014 we would love to talk books with you! Open Monday-Saturday 9\u00a0 to 5.<\/p>\n

Above right: Jon Wolfmueller, Jean Wolfmueller Weber, Sandy Wolfmueller (photo courtesy of Wolfmueller\u2019s Books).<\/p>\n

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#4\u00a0 Lexington: 40 Acre Wood<\/h1>\n

<\/span><\/span>521 3rd Street, Lexington, TX 78947<\/span> (I like to think that we\u2019re next door to Winnie-the-Pooh)<\/p>\n

www.facebook.com\/pages\/40-Acre-Wood\/207921539264878<\/p>\n

Owner: Heidi Frazier<\/span><\/p>\n

Opened 2010<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span><\/span>40 Acre Wood, a small, bookstore in Lexington, Texas,<\/span> is home to hundreds of eclectic titles on a smattering of all subjects, from almost-current fiction and Texana to learning Swahili. Dedicated to serving its small community of 1200, 40 Acre Wood has become a kind of literary general store where seniors, adults, and children often share books, advice, and opinions while drinking coffee or lemonade and a baked treat that a customer brought in for the day.<\/p>\n

Above right: Heidi Frazier store owner, (courtesy of 40 Acre Wood)<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>Open only three days each week, 40 Acre Wood strives to serve the community, especially children. Story time is held each week and every child is welcome to take home a free book each time he walks through the door. 40 Acre Wood also hosts its free summer reading club each year offering books, prizes, and an end-of-summer party to all its participants, well over 100 children every summer.<\/p>\n

Apart from books sold on consignment and purchased for resale, many books are given to 40 Acre Wood. Customers who bring books to the store are asked to name a charity or non-profit; a portion of those sales is then given to that charity. 40 Acre Wood donates hundreds of dollars each year to the causes most important to its customers.<\/p>\n

40 Acre Wood is a great store to find a find and stands by its motto: \u201cBuy two. Read one. Give one.\u201d<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>#5\u00a0 Tyler: The Last Bookstore Tyler<\/h1>\n

2702 East Fifth Street, PMB 316, Tyler TX 75701\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 www.thelastbookstoretyler.com<\/p>\n

Owners: Lisa and Scott Krumm<\/span><\/p>\n

Opened: 2012<\/p>\n

Our first love is books! <\/span>Our store resulted from that love and an auction\u2014The Last Book Sale, from Booked Up in Archer City. We went to the auction to buy three books and ended up with 300. From this The Last Book Store Tyler was born. We grew rapidly after this, as we travel extensively buying books for our inventory from good inexpensive reading to collectibles\u2014first editions, antiquarian and rare books. There is something for everyone. With our constant turnover of stock\u2014we book-lovers\u2014also buy books. Thank you for visiting our site, and we look forward to assisting you with your purchases. (And to a bricks-and-mortar store soon!)<\/p>\n

Click here to check out our inventory: www.abebooks.com\/the-last-book-store-tyler-tx\/59747352\/sf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Above right: Owner Lisa Krumm (right) and daughter Tobi Sparks (courtesy of The Last Bookstore Tyler)<\/span><\/p>\n

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#6a\u00a0 Austin: Barnes & Noble #2536 Arboretum<\/h1>\n

10000 Research Blvd., #158, Austin TX 78759\u00a0\u00a0 http:\/\/store-locator.barnesandnoble.com\/store\/2536<\/p>\n

Community Relations Manager: Stephanie Sanchez <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Below right: Staff of Barnes & Noble Arboretum (courtesy of B&N)<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>Austinites and visitors alike<\/span> are stunned by this beautiful Barnes & Noble store in the Arboretum. Two floors and a wall of windows capture the natural light and make book browsing easier. Since 1994, this store has been a local favorite place to hang out, drink coffee, buy books and music, and maybe run into a celebrity or two. Popular for date nights, we even set up a surprise engagement for a couple who met and had their first date here.\u00a0 The store is staffed by veteran booksellers who are always ready with a book recommendation or a fun event like the monthly meeting of Dumbledore\u2019s Army.<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>#6b\u00a0 Dallas: Deep Vellum Books<\/h1>\n

2919 Commerce St. #159, Dallas TX 75226\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 www.deepvellum.com<\/p>\n

Founders: Will Evans and Anne Hollander<\/span><\/p>\n

Opened: 2016<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>It’s a bold idea: a bookstore in the year 2016. Will Evans, Founder of Deep Vellum Publishing, opened a bookstore with the help of the community around him. Our landlord, Madison Partners, got the vision – an independent voice nestled in a community full of history and culture. Our friends, too many to name, dutifully supported this bold idea by purchasing actual printed books on occasion – at least when they weren’t planning underground performance events and launch parties.<\/p>\n

And when the obligations got real and the business was ready for liftoff – about four months after the doors officially opened, and a few weeks after new babies were born and golden opportunities bestowed – Anne Hollander joined Deep Vellum Books as a Co-Founder, with the responsibility to take over the store and turn the bold vision into an empire.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>We’re located in the historic heart of Deep Ellum, our roots grounded in growth, tenacity, and expression. Gen X may remember our home as Club Clearview, the sign still perched in our store windows, or as the site of the inaugural Dallas Film Festival. Boomers may remember this building as a reputable storefront, or as home legendary blues and jazz artist Leadbelly, his music drifting through the alleyway at sunset. As for the Millennials – this was the site of an unregistered winery, our floors now pocked with meritage blends.<\/p>\n

To us, it’s the site where it all begins.<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>#7\u00a0 Houston: Brazos Bookstore<\/h1>\n

2421 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005-1451\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 www.brazosbookstore.com<\/p>\n

Manager: Benjamin Ryback<\/span><\/p>\n

Opened: 1974<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>Brazos Bookstore was started in 1974<\/span> by Karl Kilian, a devoted member of Houston’s literary community. Since then, Brazos has been serving Houston’s readers with a carefully curated selection of fiction, general nonfiction, and kids’ books. We also offer a jam-packed schedule of events for adults, teens, and children.<\/p>\n

Right: Brazos Bookstore\u2019s incredibly lively thoughtful, engaged, knowledgeable, and literary staff (courtesy of Brazos Boosktore)<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>#8\u00a0 Alpine: Front Street Books<\/h1>\n

121 & 201 E. Holland Ave., Alpine, TX 79830\u00a0\u00a0 www.fsbooks.com<\/p>\n

Owner: Jean Hardy Pittman<\/span><\/p>\n

Opened: 1994<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>At Front Street Books, independence is the watchword<\/span> for bookselling. We follow our own and our customers\u2019 decisions on what to stock in our store\u2014and we have a broad and deep, personal, selection.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve served Alpine and the Big Bend area of West Texas since 1994. Our inventory includes new, used, and out-of-print titles. It emphasizes local and regional subjects, of course, but we carry all the national\/regional bestsellers and a broad range of other topics, favoring History, Science, Natural History, Literature, Children’s Fiction and Non-Fiction, Religion and Spirituality, Cookbooks, General Fiction, and Science Fiction and Fantasy.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>We ship orders all over Texas and the U.S. What you don\u2019t find in our store online, we\u2019ll get in a jiffy from our shelves or from a wholesaler and send it anywhere you are. All you have to do is call us or e-mail us with your requests.<\/p>\n

Like us on Facebook for updates on special events and new releases, or browse our out-of-print books on Abebooks.com at www.abebooks.com\/front-street-books-alpine-tx-u.s.a\/116631\/sf<\/p>\n

Above: Front Street Books: Alpine, Texas location (photo from store\u2019s Facebook page)<\/p>\n

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#9\u00a0 Dallas:\u00a0 Barnes & Noble #2884 Lincoln Park<\/h1>\n

<\/span><\/span>7700 West Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX 75225
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<\/span><\/span><\/span>http:\/\/store-locator.barnesandnoble.com\/store\/2884<\/span><\/p>\n

Manager: Craig Schlabs<\/span><\/p>\n

Community relations manager: Cody McMahan<\/span><\/p>\n

Opened September 1998<\/p>\n

Our management team has 152 years<\/span> of bookselling experience, and all of us together have a combined total of 283 years of bookselling experience!<\/p>\n

Storytimes are held Tuesday @ 11AM and Saturday @ 11AM. Other community events include Annual Holiday Book Drive benefiting the Reading Is Fundamental; Bookfair fundraisers benefiting schools, libraries, and arts organizations; Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Triathlon \u2013 rewarding kids for reading over the summer with free books!<\/p>\n

Craig Schlabs (Store Manager) and Cody McMahan (Community Relations Manager); courtesy of Barnes & Noble.<\/p>\n

We are available for recommendations in-store by phone or by facebook message. Come join us to be a part of the best of book culture:\u00a0 deep levels of book and music expertise, excellence customer service and fantastic events from storytimes to author events with note worthies from the literary, political and celebrity worlds. We combine the best of your store around the corner and all the advantages of being a part of Barnes & Noble!<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>#10\u00a0 Fort Worth: The Last Word Bookstore<\/h1>\n

615 S. Jennings Ave., Fort Worth, Texas\u00a0\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/thelastwordbookstore<\/p>\n

Owner: Paul Combs<\/span><\/p>\n

Opened: 2016<\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/span>Paul Combs fulfilled his childhood dream<\/span> of having his own bookstore when he opened The Last Word Bookstore, on Friday, May 27, 2016 in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n

In December 2015, after he learned of his job\u2019s outsourcing, Combs (right) launched a GoFundMe online campaign to raise money to cover start-up costs. The campaign, which offered contributors lifetime discounts ranging from five percent off for a donation of $25 to $99 to 25 percent off for donations of $5,000 and above, raised more than $9,000 in five months.<\/p>\n

The store \u2014 2,700 square feet of space housed in a former beauty salon \u2014features more fiction than nonfiction as well as a wide selection of local and independently published authors.<\/p>\n

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* * * * *<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Texas readers have spoken. Nearly 2,500 of Lone Star Literary Life\u2019s readers have cast ballots in 3 rounds of our statewide contest during May 2017 to recognize Texas\u2019s favorite bookstores. Their final selections are as diverse as the state itself, and honorees include big indies, small indies, chain stores, used bookstores, and new bookstores in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/953","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=953"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/953\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=953"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=953"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=953"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}