The Book Bazaar. Dave Ryan/cat5
What first appears as a room of random books and antiques begins to reveal itself as a handpicked and carefully planned collection, all representative of The Book Bazaar owner John David Roberts’ passions.
“We’re very laid back here,” Roberts said.
Ziggy, his schnauzer, accompanies Roberts to work every day The Book Bazaar is open (Tuesday through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Among Roberts’ other passions are travel, art, architecture, design, antiques and obviously books. You can find his interests reflected throughout the shop, including his love of New Orleans, the city he hopes to invoke throughout his Mildred Building-located shop.
“I kind of like the more unusual things,” he said. “I surround myself with the things that I love.”
The things Roberts loves fill the shelves, the floors and the walls of his locally owned vintage bookstore, one of only two of its kind in Beaumont. Unlike chain stores, every item is hand-selected and priced with the local market in mind. Though a common misconception of The Book Bazaar is that most items are expensive, the vast majority of second-hand books are priced from $5 to $20.
The benefit to purchasing a book from The Book Bazaar is a guarantee that it has been extensively researched by Roberts to determine quality, condition, popularity and rarity of the item. The key here is quality, not quantity, and new finds are added weekly.
Roberts seeks out books and also purchases some that are brought to him, but remember: he’s very picky about what he procures. It’s this attention to detail that brings back regulars to the store; most notably, visitors from Houston who come into town on work often make it a point to stop by and discover what’s new.
Book Bazaar
In addition to books, Roberts also sells antiques that he categorizes as mantiques, which is just what it sounds like: antiques that men like, like toys and cars. Among these items include a working Thomas Edison Amberola that Roberts played, instantly making me feel as if I’d stepped out of a time machine.
The real treasure of The Book Bazaar is found in one cabinet: Roberts’ rare and collectible books. Among the shelves you’ll find a first edition “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote (which Roberts cites as his favorite store item), some Ayn Rand first editions, and signed first editions from Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, George H. Bush and George W. Bush.
Though Roberts draws a crowd from Houston, loves New Orleans and previously lived in Baton Rouge, he is a Southeast Texas native with a passion for the area where he was raised. Local authors also find a place among his shelves, as well as local first editions, including one book called “Black Gold to Bluegrass,” about the builders of The Mildred Building, where his store takes residence.
In a bookstore, our eyes mostly scan the shelves for interesting reads, but take a second to look above the words to discover original art from local artists. Again, all items are hand-picked by Roberts and range from $75 to $1,500.
Roberts prides himself on being an ambassador to visitors and new residents and says he’s happy to take time to recommend a great spot for dinner as easily as he will recommend a book to read.
But what Roberts is really an ambassador for is discovering an author by opening the pages of one of his or her first editions. Roberts explained that second and third editions tend to deviate from the author’s real intention, but a first edition portrays the truth of the literature.
“It’s like holding that person’s ideas and thoughts as they were originally perceived by that author,” Roberts said. “It’s the truest form of that person’s thoughts.”
With that in mind, stop by The Book Bazaar during normally scheduled hours, or on First Thursdays when it is open until 9 p.m. While you’re at it, grab a vanilla latte from Katherine’s and discover your own passions within the shelves.
The Book Bazaar
Where: 1455 Calder Ave., Beaumont
Info: (409) 835-1038
Online: thebookbazaarllc.com or “The Book Bazaar” on Facebook
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