Book and Spy Shop Offers Readers Place for Used and Unique Books
Not too far from campus near the intersection of West Ross and South Main is the Book and Spy Shop. Filled with used books, thrift store furniture, antiques, family heirlooms and family pets, this downtown gem fits the bill of the quaint, friendly shops from days past.
Art lover and Dallas native Georgann Thompson, known to her friends as Jody, runs the store with a little help from the store cat and dog, Simon and Molly. Thompson’s husband opened the shop last October, but passed away unexpectedly only a month later. The shop closed temporarily, but in early 2005, Thompson reopened the shop, keeping her husband’s dream alive.
Patrons can figure out the book portion of the title, but many are curious about the ‘spy.’ Thompson explained that the name is derived from her husband’s interest in becoming a private investigator, mixed with his love of books.
And P.I. or not, customers can do a little sleuthing of their own to uncover hard-to-find titles, old favorites and a lot of randomness.
“We have books on lie detection and that kind of thing, as well as a lot of mystery, sci-fi and suspense,” she said. “We really have a little bit of everything- some philosophy, a lot of religion, some on counseling, psychology, textbooks, you know, a little of this a little of that.”
Make that a lot of that. Thompson said she is not even close to completing the inventory for her collection in the tens of thousands of books. When Thompson purchased the building however, it was not specifically to open a bookstore.
“We bought the building thinking it would be an investment property. But my son’s friend had a bookstore at one time and had a storage locker filled to the ceiling with books. He hem-hawed around a bit, and we decided to take them,” she said.
Thompson says that the basement is filled floor to ceiling with books, far too many to fit on the shelves.
“We have so many, it’s not funny. It’s just an eclectic mix of things,” she said. “We rotate the books to keep the selection fresh. So people who come a lot, they see different things each time.”
People of all walks visit the Book and Spy Shop, says Thompson who enjoys seeing what they will pick off the shelves.
“It’s funny how people like a host of different things. I never know what someone will buy,” she said. “We had a couple come in yesterday and bought five or six books, and they were back again to buy more.”
With such a selection and low prices, it could be hard for a book lover not to become a regular. Most of the books at the shop are old, but there are also new and nearly new titles. Many are first editions of classics. Most paperback books sell for $.50 and hardcover for $2.00. Additionally, she has buy-one-get-one-free deals. Thompson has unearthed treasures too, books that are worth over $100. She can special order any book, as well as search for hard to find titles. And, if foot traffic is low, Thompson still actively sells books online through abebooks.com. If a book sells online, she removes it from the store shelf.
For Thompson, running a bookstore is more like a hobby. But technically, it’s her third job. She is also a full-time social worker and provides supportive living for two mentally handicapped men.
And local residents may recognize Thompson from walking Molly on the streets around campus or from being in the audience at a Wilkes event.
“I try to go to all the college cultural events in the area. My kids grew up going to things at Misericordia, King’s and Wilkes- so many that I got to the point where I didn’t know where I graduated from,” she said.
In fact, if something really catches her interest and it’s during store hours, she’ll close.
“I’ll hang a sign on the door though, saying ‘Please join us at….'”
