 |
|
| Riverbend Bookstore's future home. | |
Riverbend Bookstore will open this summer at 521 North Truman Boulevard, Crystal City, Mo. The Jefferson County Leader reported that owners Steve and Caroline Meyers purchased more than 50,000 items--including books, DVDs, albums and games inventory--from Books Galore, a longtime used bookstore in neighboring Festus that closed in December. They plan to sell primarily used books, but will also carry some new titles, along with teaching-related materials.
The Meyers, who are both teachers in the Potosi School District, said they were faithful patrons of Books Galore and hated to see the only bookstore in the area close. "We both are avid readers," Caroline Meyers said. "This is one way of sharing our joy of reading with people." Her husband, who grew up in Festus, agreed: "I hated to see such an institution not be in the area."
They bought the building that will house Riverbend Books and are having it renovated for their needs. "We're really pushing hard to open in June," Stephen Meyers said. "We've got a laundry list of things to do. It needs a new roof. It's a 9,800-square-foot building."
Future goals include opening a coffee shop in the building, he added, noting that while both of them will work in the store, he plans to retire from teaching at the end of the school year and will be there full time.