Longtime customer of The Book Rack Linda Tate purchases a stack of books from store owner Helen Aiken.In March of this year, Helen Aiken bought 50,000 books for $1.
Talk about a good deal.
As the new owner of The Book Rack off Dayton Boulevard and a five-year employee of the store, Aiken said it took time for that reality to sink in.
"It's kind of empowering. It took me a while to stop and say, 'This is all mine - I have 50,000 books,'" she laughed. "People have been so incredibly supportive."
Aiken said the previous owner, Lynne Bailis, suffered from a stroke, prompting her to hand over the keys at such a tiny price. Now, the store is a family venture, with Aiken's children and daughter-in-law helping out.
"It was either going to close or I was going to take over," said Aiken. "I really didn't want to see it close. I think there will always be a niche for people that like paperbacks; [the store] serves a purpose for people."
People such as Linda Tate, who drives all the way from her home in Ooltewah on a regular basis to snag a new stash of fresh reads. She loves to bury her nose in a good series, she said, and will often buy a whole stack of books when she stops in.
"It is well worth [the drive]," said Tate. "I have been a customer for a very long time and I just love it. You can find what you are looking for."
In every nook and cranny - and there are countless - stacks of neatly arranged used, half-price paperbacks fill every space available. All are divided into themed sections, including westerns, humor, historical, cooking, self-help, nonfiction and classics like "Great Expectations," "Jane Eyre" and "Oedipus the King."
And ever-popular romance novels, with titles like "Wrong Twin, Right Man" and "The Italian Count's Baby," overflow on the racks.
Newer best-sellers like "The Hunger Games" and "Water for Elephants" even peek out at customers from their snug spot on the shelves.
Then there's the bargain section with slightly more used but much cheaper books.
"You can find 50-cent treasures in here," said Aiken.
The store also has a trade-in policy in which customers can trade their own books for store credit.
One customer currently has $1,000 in credit and another has more than $200.
The Book Rack is located at 3501-G Dayton Blvd. and can be reached at 877-7924. For more information visit bookrackchattanooga.net.