Book and Spy Shop Offers Readers Place for Used and Unique Books

Prior to McDonaldization, "cozy" was once a word synonymous with bookshops. However, stores resonating with that kind warmth and charm do still exist, but are awfully hard to find.

Not too far from campus near the intersection of West Ross and South Main is the Book and Spy Shop. Filled with used books, thrift store furniture, antiques, family heirlooms and family pets, this downtown gem fits the bill of the quaint, friendly shops from days past.

Art lover and Dallas native Georgann Thompson, known to her friends as Jody, runs the store with a little help from the store cat and dog, Simon and Molly. Thompson's husband opened the shop last October, but passed away unexpectedly only a month later. The shop closed temporarily, but in early 2005, Thompson reopened the shop, keeping her husband's dream alive.

Patrons can figure out the book portion of the title, but many are curious about the 'spy.' Thompson explained that the name is derived from her husband's interest in becoming a private investigator, mixed with his love of books.

And P.I. or not, customers can do a little sleuthing of their own to uncover hard-to-find titles, old favorites and a lot of randomness.

"We have books on lie detection and that kind of thing, as well as a lot of mystery, sci-fi and suspense," she said. "We really have a little bit of everything- some philosophy, a lot of religion, some on counseling, psychology, textbooks, you know, a little of this a little of that."

Make that a lot of that. Thompson said she is not even close to completing the inventory for her collection in the tens of thousands of books. When Thompson purchased the building however, it was not specifically to open a bookstore.

"We bought the building thinking it would be an investment property. But my son's friend had a bookstore at one time and had a storage locker filled to the ceiling with books. He hem-hawed around a bit, and we decided to take them," she said.

Thompson says that the basement is filled floor to ceiling with books, far too many to fit on the shelves.