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Article and Interview from the SouthCobb Patch

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South Cobb Businesses' Secrets of Success

"Mableton Bookstore Still Going Strong After 32 Years"

By Libby O'Ruairi

May 16, 2011

The Book House offers a quiet refuge for busy locals.

The Book House, located at 480 Veterans Memorial Highway in Mableton, has been providing the Mableton community with quality new and used books ever since its opening in 1979 in the old Hair Castle building on Puckett Drive.

Since then, the shop has gone through several owners and a change of location, but has remained a place where residents can come in to find exactly what they need or sit down and have a friendly chat. With two reading areas, free wi-fi and fresh coffee or tea, The Book House is definitely a peaceful haven.

“I have several regulars that like to come in just to say hello or to see if there is anything I need help with. Mableton has a lot of caring, generous people living here,” Pam Simmons, longtime Mableton resident and owner of the bookstore for the past nine years.

Simmons came to own the bookstore while going through a divorce and having doubts about her chosen career path. Suddenly becoming a single mother of three along with working long hours in retail management and operations, Simmons felt the need to change her focus toward the more important things in her life.

“I prayed for a new direction in my life and one day I stopped in at The Book House and noticed a small handwritten sign saying it was for sale. At that moment I knew my prayers were answered,” commented Simmons.

Not long after, Simmons was able to purchase the store and begin a new existence for herself and her family.

With her extensive background in operations and inventory control in the retail business Simmons noted, “I now feel that my previous career in management and operations was just a prelude to what I would eventually be doing for myself.”

Starting with a collection of 38,000 books, Simmons currently has an inventory of over 110,000 books covering differing genres and subject matter.

Simmons also keeps abreast of the required reading lists of local schools to make them readily available for the students.

“If I don’t have a requested book in stock at the time, I can order it in and have it available in usually just a few days.” added Simmons.

Along with a monthly book discussion on the fourth Saturday of every month, future plans for the store include adding regular informational seminars and classes on varying areas of interest. Topics such as holistic health, alternative spirituality and new age inspirational teachings are just a few fields Simmons would like to incorporate into the store calendar. Additionally, Simmons would like to expand the business and open more locations.

Simmons is also involved in giving back to the community that she says, “has shown so much support and loyalty to my business," by holding meetings for the local Girl Scouts and donating books to homeless shelters and our U.S. soldiers overseas.

Simmons added, “I also have plans to get involved in future fundraising events for the area. When I moved to my new location, I had people from the community come out and volunteer their time to help me in so many ways. The support I’ve been shown has been incredible. ”

Through hard work and a driven commitment to the business, the bookstore’s revenue has grown each year even through these harder economic times. With the introduction of the Kindle and other downloadable book devices, however, this past year’s intake has remained relatively even. That doesn’t dampen the spirits of this positive-minded business owner though.

“Life is what you make of it, you just have to follow the signs,” Simmons said.

SOURCE: http://southcobb.patch.com/articles/mableton-bookstore-still-going-strong-after-32-years