Bookstore Adventure (Dialup Warning! 20 Pics!)

[RetroLounge]

If I ever mention buying another bookstore, SLAP ME!

So here's the story. 3 of us left Milwaukee at 11am on Friday in the Mini Van full of boxes, drove north until we found Minneapolis / St. Paul. We arrived at 5pm and began packing boxes immediately, doing so until 11pm. The place was a freaking mess, books everywhere. I originally contracted for fiction, nonfiction and some misc. Ended up buying Fiction, Nonfiction, War, Sports, Sci-Fi, Childrens, Biographies, Coffee Table books, and everything else. The ONLY thing I didn't buy were the comedy/humor section, because he wanted to keep it. Additionally, he threw in 100 bookshelves for free. After sleeping in a motel friday night, we started again Saturday morning by picking up the 2 trucks, and stopping at home depot for boxes and tape. ended up with over 400 new boxes and over 100 boxes we brought with, plus another huge amount I dumpster dove for around the West St. Paul area. Found a factory that installs sub-woofers and picked up 50 small boxes from their dumpster. So we packed boxes and loaded the 2 trucks, and were finished by midnight. We then drove for 2 hours before we stopped at a motel and slept for 3 hours, then drove until we hit Milwaukee about 12:30 on Sunday. We had a crew waiting for us and began unpacking the trucks. Put about 20,000 books in my apartment, and the rest (10,000+) and the bookshelves in my garage. Now I live among boxes of books, and want to quit and read for the rest of my life :D So here's a whole lot of photos...

This is what it looked like when we arrived. Holy Shit!













Progress being Made:


Truck 1 - Saturday Morning


Truck 2 - Saturday Afternoon


Of course, it started raining when we got home and began unloading:


Over 100 boxes in my third bedroom


My Livingroom is gone...




Dining room held 50 more boxes



My Bedroom is now a storage room for over 100 boxes




Sweaty, sore, tired, excited, freaked, happy, book-rich:


So I will be cataloging for the next year! The fun begins, the adventure continues...

:silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly:

RL

[GOPisEvil]

1. Holy crap!!

Good luck with the cataloging and with getting the store off the ground. There is one good thing about it being a used book store; no problem with shelf life of the inventory. :D

[RetroLounge]

41. Thanks...

:hi:

RL

[Suich]

2. I had to empty out a small library after a fire so you have my

sympathy! Good luck in your new venture! My neighborhood used-book store had to close a year ago because their rent doubled...I sure miss going there!

:hi:

[RetroLounge]

83. I feel like I live in a small library now

:hi:

RL

[reyd reid reed]

3. "Sweaty, sore, tired, excited, freaked, happy, book-rich"

That says it all.

*sigh*

:loveya:

:hi:

[RetroLounge]

4. ...

:hi:

RL

[swag]

5. You are a bold man.

Much success to you.

And nice Jesus Lizard shirt.

[RetroLounge]

7. Thanks!

and it's my fav shirt...

Wish I could have seen them live.

:hi:

RL

[ZombieNixon]

6. That's an awful lot of "books" you have in them there beer boxes.

:P

Congratulations! Best of luck! :toast:

[RetroLounge]

8. Had to pay the crew somehow

:rofl:

RL

[ghostsofgiants]

9. Badass.

Good luck with the cataloguing and eventually the store!

[RetroLounge]

86. Thanks!

Always wanted to be badass... :D

:hi:

RL

[bridgit]

10. good job & congrat'z again, it looks like commerce to me...

:-)

[RetroLounge]

107. "looks like commerce to me"

yes, it certainly does

:hi:

RL

[dolo amber]

11. Awesome, RL

You look like a kid in a candy store where the candy is made of books. :D

:toast:

[RetroLounge]

87. Mmmm, Candy Books...

Yummy...

:hi:

RL

[Broken_Hero]

12. 30,000 books...thats not bad.

I use to work for William B. Meyer, a book moving company...Myself, and a crew of 10 could take care of you books pretty quickly...:) Biggest job I had was Sacramento capital library, over 7 million books....:) Job took us...damn, 3 and a half months, roughly.

[RetroLounge]

21. Well, hell, I shoulda called you!

:D

RL

[Ptah]

13. Good God, books. What are they good for! absolutely

everything.

I'm worn out seeing those pictures.
One hundred bookcases?

You've really got a tiger by the tail, young man!



I'm proud of you.

Ptah, Tucson.

[RetroLounge]

14. About half the store was pine planks on cinder blocks.

Real classy...

RL

[fishnfla]

15. Good Luck with the place RL

I wish I lived closer, I am a dedicated used book store shopper for decades now...I probably have close to 2,000 books between home and the office....genres I can never seem to find enough of: (nonfiction all, all the best stories are true ;)

1. Military History, especially the VietNam War
2. Adventure/travel/outdoors. In good ol' Wisco huntin' and fishin' topics
3. COOKBOOKS! I love finding old cookbooks ( hint; I dont know what your resale policy will be, but I never return cookbooks...)
4. American History, local history, American Indian History
5. gardening, landscaping and home improvement

Nonfiction genres that i can do without:

1. Biographies, including the current trend of auto-biographies
2. Self-help "therapy" books or how to get rich titles
3. True Crime, but thats just me. Those shelves seem to be popular for other readers

[RetroLounge]

18. Well, I will post when I get a web store up and running

I boxed up lots of Military history, military fiction, war books. TOns of cookbooks, Outdoor stuff, history and gardening. Also a bunch of vintage home improvement stuff, big sets.

:hi:

RL

[fishnfla]

22. pm me the web info when you have a chance.

Post it in the Wisco forum too....I will for sure check it out!

Cookbooks from Minnesota huh? LUTEFISK FOR EVERYONE!!!!!!

[RetroLounge]

23. LUTEFISK FOR EVERYONE!

:rofl:

RL

[SeattleGirl]

16. Yowza, dude!

You've sure got your work cut out for you!

[RetroLounge]

19. Tell me about it...

:tired:

RL

[graywarrior]

17. Good Christ, I'm exhausted just looking at those.

[RetroLounge]

20. Yeah, me too...

and sore.

RL

[CaliforniaPeggy]

24. My dear RetroLounge!

Well, that is one impressive pile of books you have there!

I know you're happy to be in this situation, but damn!

Good luck cataloguing all of them....



:yourock:

:hug:

[RetroLounge]

27. And I have no idea what's in the boxes

Each one is like opening a Christmas present!

:hi:

RL

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

25. wow. I've been trying to visualize 32,000 books all night

:o :o :o

damn. damn damn damn

have fun

[RetroLounge]

26. And there's another 100+ boxes at my house

in the garage. :D

RL

[driver8]

28. I'll give you twenty bucks for that jukebox. That should clear out

some room for more books.

Oh yeah...could you deliver it for me??

[RetroLounge]

108. $20 buck it is.

$800.00 delivery and $200.00 for the records...

:D

RL

[driver8]

109. Oh man...you got me!!

Here I thought I was being so clever...:toast:

[Whoa_Nelly]

29. You might be interested in checking out this

Bookman's in the Tucson/Phoenix area find deserted grocery stores and turn them into roomy bookstores where books are sold, or people can bring in books for credit, use the credit to "buy" books, music, etc. from the store, and more.

When people bring in their books, there are a couple or so college kids behind the counter who give a playing card to the customer, and place the same card in the first book (or music, DVD, etc.) of the set brought in. It usually takes about 20-30 minutes for the books to be graded on an "A" or "B" quality list and priced. Then, the person who brought them in gets a register receipt for the total, and the amount is for in-store credit only. (and if there are too many of the same book, etc., being brought in, Bookman's reserves the right to not accept the item.) The books, magazines, vinyl LPs, etc. really move along.

They also have artists who sell on consignment, and others who do the same with new or vintage collectibles. Several of their stores also ahve a rare book collection that can be viewed, but not for sale.

Check it out:

http://www.bookmans.com/

[RetroLounge]

31. Holy Shite!

That is absolutely amazing!

Wow, just Wow!

RL

[xchrom]

30. wow -- just wow!

dude that is amazing -- but you really are the right guy for the job!

good luck!

[RetroLounge]

32. Thanks!

:hi:

RL

[miss_american_pie]

33. I would say something here

but I can't stop drooling over the book pictures. :hi:

[RetroLounge]

39. You're just drooling over that book stud in the last picture...

:rofl:

:hi:

Wanna come help me catalogue them?

RL

[miss_american_pie]

43. In your dreams

:D :hi:

[RetroLounge]

44. The Drooling or the Cataloging?

both?

:shrug:

RL

p.s. You inhabit many of my dreams...

[miss_american_pie]

45. Both

You can't afford my cataloging services. :D

And I think those are nightmares. :hi:

[RetroLounge]

46. Oh, I think I can afford that...

Relocation, room and board, salary. No problem.

The additional fallout from your arrival here? Not so much...

:hi:

RL

[miss_american_pie]

55. I'm not worth a little fallout?

:cry:

[RetroLounge]

57. Oh, believe me, you are more than worth it...

I just need to save a little more money so I can afford it :D

Oh, and little fallout may be an understatement... :9

:loveya:

RL

[miss_american_pie]

59. LOL

:loveya:

[RetroLounge]

68. Saving my pennies as we speak...

Kids are kicking in their allowance :D

RL

[miss_american_pie]

69. Wait a second

Kids? I thought we were talking about books.

*map runs screaming from thread*

[RetroLounge]

70. Oh I bet I can make you run farther and scream louder

How's this book for you?



RL

[miss_american_pie]

74. ...

:rofl:

Been there, did that. Burned that book. :hi:

[RetroLounge]

75. We NEVER burn books. NEVER.

We resell them...

:rofl:

RL

[miss_american_pie]

76. What's this "we" stuff?

I burn that book, and any other on that subject. :D

[RetroLounge]

77. How about this for a subject?

RL

[tigereye]

116. I'm gonna send that pic to my husband

:rofl:

[RetroLounge]

117. Glad to help...

:rofl:

RL

[Callalily]

34. Amazing RL!

Just amazing! And I'm glad to hear that you'll be putting up a web-site. That way we all can visit your store. Can't wait!

And have fun opening up those boxes. I'd be tempted to start reading, and never get around to cataloging and stocking the books.

:hi:

[RetroLounge]

102. I'm trying not to take too many books for myself

Every box I open I say, "Oh, I've wanted to read that."

Got a stack on the side...

:9

RL

[LaurenG]

35. I love books, Congratulations RL

Your new business is so cool. I am so happy for you!

[RetroLounge]

112. Thanks!

:hi:

RL

[Bridget Burke]

36. Well, I can see why you picked your name....

From the bits of decor still visible behind the book boxes. Got any Tikis? www.tikiroom.com/

Congratulations on the books. Cataloging seems a fine way to pass a cold Northern Winter. And a muddy Northern Spring. And a warmish Northern Summer...

[RetroLounge]

47. Got lots of Tiki stuff, yes...

THanks, i will be cataloging for years...

:hi:

RL

[speedoo]

37. That's just amazing.

I'm exhausted just looking at the pics.

I love books and you can expect a visit sometime when I'm in the area. Meanwhile I look forward to the website.

Congratulations. It's a fabulous venture, you're embarked on!

[RetroLounge]

118. Will have the web address soon

:hi:

RL

[wildhorses]

38. all those books and the big-eyed kids on the wall, too??!?

I am SO jealous!!

Don't you wish rooms were just walls of bookshelves wrapped around cozy chairs and fireplaces?

[RetroLounge]

40. Used to have tons of big-eyed prints

Sold them off, but kept a few good ones...

RL

[wildhorses]

42. I had a couple ot them in my room as a little girl.

Wonder what ever happened to them? Mom? This might lead to a LONG phone converstaion,,,

[idgiehkt]

48. congrats

those first few pictures got me hot, lol. That is my idea of paradise, being smothered in books! Looks like alot of work but I bet it was also a lot of fun.

[RetroLounge]

49. Tons of fun!

And I have no idea what is in most of the boxes...

RL

[hunter]

50. I'm so jealous. But then again I'm crazy.

I don't know anything about this, but most books now have barcodes on them. Are there any open source (or even inexpensive closed source) sorts of software that deals with this -- something that you could just scan it and put it on the shelf?

[RetroLounge]

51. Won't work as most of these are older books.

It's gonna be manual entry.

RL

[lizziegrace]

52. May I ask?

What's the load limit on your floors. ;)

Looks like a terrific start RL. :hug:

[RetroLounge]

60. Well, they haven't collapsed into the basement yet...

:crossfingers:

:hi:

RL

[myrna minx]

53. I am so happy for you.

While the moving part would be quite challenging, I can't imagine how much fur you're going to have looking through your new stock. Oooohhh. I'm jealous! :bounce:

[RetroLounge]

61. Looking forward to it!

:hi:

All those boxes...

:bounce:

RL

[Susang]

54. What about that fabulously fashionable love seat?

Did you get that too? :hi:

[RetroLounge]

62. He offered it, but no room in the trucks

:hi:

RL

[rug]

56. Could you dig out a.G.K. Chesterton for me?

[RetroLounge]

63. If I run across one, it's yours

:hi:

RL

[rug]

65. Thanks!

When I read your adventure I was both envious and aghast.

[RetroLounge]

66. "I was both envious and aghast"

Seems to be the general consensus :rofl:

:hi:

RL

[ClassWarrior]

58. Nice job buddy!! Sorry I couldn't join in on the fun...

B-):thumbsup:

Found a retail space yet? Let me know when you do. I'll help with the move-in party. Do you have my email? If not, I'll PM it to you.

NGU.

[RetroLounge]

113. Gonna wait on the retail space

right now I am listing them on half.com.

:hi:

RL

[graywarrior]

64. Interesting decor.

[RetroLounge]

67. Mid-Century Corrugated Cardboard...

:hi:

RL

[graywarrior]

71. Bet is has an nice fragrance.

[RetroLounge]

72. It smells like...

Literature...

:hi:

RL

[graywarrior]

73. Book Salad.

[tinfoil tiaras]

78. You own a bookstore? Cool...

My english teacher told us today that he has over 4000 books in his 1700 sq foot house...haha bless his heart. He tells us about his life like ALL the time... :rofl:

[RetroLounge]

79. Not really a bookstore.

I bought the contents of a bookstore.

Tell your teacher I have over 30,000 books now, and about 20,000 are now in my 3 bedroom apartment...

RL

[tinfoil tiaras]

81. holy crap!

ROFL...i will tell him!! :rofl:

[bullwinkle428]

80. Damn! I whined about having to pack all the books in my 7' tall,

32" wide bookcase when I had to move out of my old house! One of the movers even said the book boxes were the hardest thing to deal with - not the 2 sleeper couches, king-sized bed, dresser, armoire, etc....

[RetroLounge]

82. When packing books...

...many small boxes is better that large ones.

RL

[asthmaticeog]

84. I envy the hell out of you.

You're gonna be a book store! Right fucking on, man. :thumbsup:

[RetroLounge]

85. Right now, It is a blast opening a random box

and seeing what's inside!

BOOKS! YAY!

RL

[ScreamingMeemie]

88. How cool is that?

Congrats on completing what must have seemed a daunting task! :toast:


I am in love with your dishes, and we have the same Lane endtables. :hi: :hug: Good luck with what I am sure is going to be the best little used bookstore Milwaukee has ever seen!

[RetroLounge]

89. Thanks!

The dishes are Franciscan Starburst.

The tables are Heywood-Wakefield.

Both circa 1954.

:hi:

RL

[ScreamingMeemie]

90. Oops...! Ours are 1952 Lane end tables. Very similar.

They were my grandparents' and match our coffee table. :hi:

[RetroLounge]

91. Lane made good stuff.

My parents had Lane end tables, coffee table and cedar chest.

and their first dressers were bought new the year they got married, and were made by Kroehler. To give you an idea of the quality, over 50 years later they still are solid and were passed down to my older brother, then to me, then to my younger brother, then spent a couple of decades in their motel, and are now my son's dressers.

Gotta love the quality of upper end 50's furniture...

RL

[ScreamingMeemie]

92. Agreed!

It irks me very much when people ask,"When are you going to get rid of that and get something new...?" They assume it is not my choice to display them proudly. That and they make fun of the fact that one of my favorite pieces is a credenza style stereo system that was also my grandparents. Not only is it finely crafted, it is my childhood on four legs. :hi:

[RetroLounge]

94. "it is my childhood on four legs"

Oh god yeah. I have a smaller console stereo. My Grandparents had a huge one and I'vr gone out and bought a bunch of the LP's they used to have.

Soundtracks to movies: South Pacific, Sound of Music, Oliver, etc.
Victory At Sea, all three volumes.
Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass.
Chet Atkins

You get the idea. Music to invoke good memories.

Now if I could just recreate the smells of my grandmother's cooking...

RL

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

93. Website NOW! Online store NOW! Catalog NOW! Overseas shipping NOW!

[RetroLounge]

98. Send me a large check first!

5 digits should do it...

:rofl:

I'm working on it Man, I'm working on it...

RL

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

99. Five digits. Okay.

US$ 10000.

Binary digits, of course.

[RetroLounge]

100. of course...

:rofl:

:hi:

RL

[Mutley]

95. Congratulations!!

Wow, that looks like a ton of work. I don't know how you did it.

:bounce: :applause: :party: :toast: :beer:

[RetroLounge]

119. I did it with good helpers!

:hi:

RL

[MsAnthropy]

96. RL, that store is a couple blocks from my place!

I've been in there about ten times! The door was always open but there was never anyone in there--no clerks, no customers, and an honor box for the money. I'd get creeped out at being alone in there so I didn't stay too long each time--I was afraid the shelves would fall on me and no one would ever find me again. There was a huge humor section, which is where I stayed most of the time. What's he going to do with the place and the rest of the books?

I'm so glad you'll put the books to good use. What a great adventure you're on! Best of luck and have a great time.

:bounce: :applause:

[RetroLounge]

97. I bought the entire store except the humor section

He wouldn't sell it for some reason...

It was a weird place. There were two front doors, and he only locked one. And the honor box was strange.

RL

[MsAnthropy]

101. It was a strange!

I moved into the neighborhood a couple months ago and was shocked to find this deserted dump in this newer strip mall. I imagined it was run by a mad hermit who couldn't stand human contact but was somewhere in the vicinity, because I definitely felt like I was being watched from somewhere. I don't envy you the cleaning job, that place was filthy. I rubbed down the books I bought with antiseptic wipes before I read them. There's going to be some wonderful hidden treasures along the way, though. Enjoy the hunt!

[tigereye]

103. you are my hero!

wow! I am stunned and envious!


Best of luck.

[RetroLounge]

104. Thanks!

This is going to be fun!

:hi:

RL

[tigereye]

105. my son loved seeing you carrying all those books

but where do you sleep now?

(add requisite literary quote here....) ;)

[RetroLounge]

106. My Futon is Surrounded by boxes...

Well insulated anyhow.

:D

RL

[tigereye]

114. you should have some interesting dreams...

[RetroLounge]

115. Yes, I dream in fiction some nights

mystery, poetry, biography on others, etc. :rofl:

RL

[grasswire]

110. I missed earlier reports of this

...and I'm envious. Are you going to sell them? If so, I hope you are familiar with http://www.abebooks.com, where you can easily find the value of most books, used. Or you can become a seller there if you want an internet based bookstore.

[RetroLounge]

111. Thanks, and yes, they are for sale.

I will be starting to list them on half.com. Then i will export them and also list on Amazon, ABE and Alibris and maybe a few others...

:hi:

RL

[Shine]

120. OMG!!!!

Wow, I'm impressed. You've taken a big, big bite, my friend. Good on ya! :thumbsup:

Reminds me of that cool quote:
"To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites." ~Robert Heinlein

:hi: :hug:

[RetroLounge]

121. and the flavor is good indeed!

:hi:

RL