New Bookstore Opens in Eureka

"Do give books—religious or otherwise—for Christmas. They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal," quipped book author Lenore Hershey.

Opening just in time for local residents to secure books as holiday gifts is Maria Joseph Books, nestled inside building at 510 N. West Avenue in Eureka.

Bookstore owners Angelic and Joe Towe live just outside of Eureka, with their two cats, Ella and Bella. Angelic said the book The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap was the catalyst for her new store. She said they met the book's author, Wendy Welch and her husband, shortly after reading the book and just before opening the new store in Eureka.

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A small portion of the books provided are from Angelic's private library. Sections include:

• Fiction
• Children's
• Religion/Spirituality
• Inspiration
• Self Help
• Biographies and Memoirs
• Cookbooks and Food
• Nonfiction
• Poetry
• Reading and Writing
• Business and Finance

In addition to books for gift ideas, the store offers metal beaded bookmarks and audio books. One of the special highlights at the moment is the Route 66 St. Louis Cookbook.

Book credits are granted for books that are in clean, good condition, pending supply and demand in the overall inventory. Angelic said credit is calculated on a book-by-book basis. She said the majority of paperback books will be awarded 20 percent of their list price.

Credits are good toward 50 percent of purchases of used books at the store, and expire after six months.

"For those with large book collections, we do make house calls," said Angelic, who can be reached at 636-938-6633 or 636-587-8701.

"We are in need of books, so if you have any you'd like to donate or would like to trade for book credit, there's a wicker basket in the store under the audio book table," she said. "Just drop your books in the basket, tear a ticket off the spool in the basket, leave the other ticket with your books with your name and number on the back and I will contact you with your book credit. If you are donating, please indicate that in or on the bag."