Bookstore fills downtown gap

Bill Porter likes a good book and a good bookstore.

More than three years after he closed Bijou Street Books in downtown Colorado Springs, Porter last month opened Adventures In Books, a used-book store on North Tejon Street.
Several used-book stores are sprinkled around the city, so another one isn't unusual. But Porter's store could play a key role for downtown.

It helps fill the gap left by the closures in recent years of The Chinook Bookshop and the Book Broker, although Poor Richard's on North Tejon remains a popular used-book store in the area. Also, downtown supporters say more traditional retailers, such as bookstores, are needed to attract visitors and complement the area's growing number of restaurants and nightclubs.

Porter knows he faces a challenge. He said he closed his 14-year-old Bijou Street Books in early 2005 because he wasn't making enough money in the face of competition from bookstore chains and the Internet. He said he needed a steadier income at the time to support a son in college; with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's degree in special education, he went to work for two local social service agencies.

So why return to the book business?

Porter said he's never lost his passion for books and operating a bookstore. His son is now out of college, his income needs aren't as great and he still brings in money on the side as a part-time caseworker for human service agencies elsewhere in the state.

"I enjoy being a small-business owner," said Porter, 55. "I enjoy not only books, but I enjoy running a small business. It's 50-50 for me. I like buying and selling things."
Competition remains with the large chains and online retailers, Porter said. He'll eventually sell some of his books over the Internet but also believes many book buyers want a hands-on experience.

Porter has started with 4,000 to 5,000 used books, which he hopes to grow to 30,000 to 40,000. He describes his store as having a general collection, yet he also emphasizes Colorado and United States history, aviation and military history and children's books, among other topics. A portion of his store at 606 N. Tejon St. has an area for children.
Among Porter's speciality items are a leather-bound, 16-volume set of Richard Burton's

"A Thousand and One Nights," a signed copy of Stephen Ambrose's "D-Day" and a signed copy of James Michener's "Texas."

Beth Kosley, executive director of the Downtown Partnership advocacy group, said she's glad to see someone with a track record returning to downtown.

"I do think that a downtown can always benefit from bookstores, whether new or used, especially this downtown that has a clientele that sorely missed Chinook and is an educated clientele that loves its books," she said.

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Contact the writer: 636-0228 or rich.laden@gazette.com