A Cup of Tea and Plenty of Novels at The Bookshop

From her independent bookstore in Roseville, owner Melissa Olson likes to welcome visitors with a free cup of chai tea.

"We want to make people feel comfortable when they come in," Olson said. 

In a world of intense competition from other booksellers and the online world, Olson said that's one way she can separate her store, The Booksop, from others in the market.

That it's been a tough decade for independent booksellers is borne out in the numbers: About 10 years ago, the Twin Cities had about 200 independent seller; today there about half that number, Olson said 

Founded in 1981, The Bookshop operated for 26 years from HarMar Mall before relocating to 1940 Lexington Av. N. about five-and-a-half years ago. That move has given her store better street visibiliity, she said.

The Bookshop buys and sells primarily pre-owned fiction books with a heavy assortment of mystery, thriller, science-fcition and romance titles. 

"We have some books on DDs," added Olson, who teamed with her mother in 1900 to buy the store, then became sole owner after her mother died. 

Olson said the move to Lexington Avenue increased her store's space, today operating with about 2,100 square-feet. It's also increase her store's curbside  visibility.

One of The Bookshop's challenges is handling it overhead and "getting people to know that we are here ( on Lexington Avenue)," Olson said. "It's different time with digital."

Books at The Bookshop typcialliy sell for about half their cover price with customers getting a trade credit towards a book purchase when they bring in their own used books to the store. 

All things considered, Olson said she likes her job alot. "I love books so I feel very fortunate to be doing this (selling books)," she said.

Olson said she used to each almost a book a day, but in recent years she has slowed down a bit reading an average of three books a week.  

Asked what she best likes about her shop, Olson said it is meeting the customers. "This (books) is one thing we can talk about and connect," she said.