A De Soto couple plans to open Riverbend Bookstore in Crystal City this summer after purchasing inventory from Books Galore, a longtime Festus used book store that closed in December.
Stephen and Caroline Meyer of De Soto, both teachers in the Potosi School District, said they were faithful patrons of Books Galore and hated to see the only book store in the area close.
So, they decided to open Riverbend Bookstore at 521 N. Truman Blvd.
“We both are avid readers,” Caroline said. “This is one way of sharing our joy of reading with people.”
Stephen, who grew up in Festus, agrees. “I hated to see such an institution not be in the area,” he said.
The Meyers 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 said. “We’ve got a laundry list of things to do. It needs a new roof. It’s a 9,800-square-foot building.”
The Meyers said they bought more than 50,000 items, including books, DVDs, albums and games, from John and Kendall Gilbert, who owned the old Books Galore.
Stephen said he’s in a band with John and had talked to him about buying the inventory before Books Galore closed.
Caroline said Riverbend will mostly sell used books, but will carry some new ones.
The Meyers said they also want to offer some teaching-related materials.
“We are both teachers and we want to cater to teachers,” Stephen said.
He said the Gilberts have been helping him and his wife prepare for their opening.
“We will keep their credit system for trading in books, but we will have a somewhat different system,” Stephen said.
Down the line the Meyers hope to open a coffee shop in the building, Stephen said.
While both will work in the store, Stephen, who plans to retire from teaching at the of the school year, will be there full time.
“Stephen was a librarian at one time,” Caroline said.
Riverbend’s hours of operation have not been determined, but it will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays, she said.
For more information about the store’s progress, go to the about Riverbend Bookstore Facebook page.
“We are going to put up a website, also,” Stephen said.
