Despite having the reputation as a "college town" during St. Pat’s, many of the students would argue that Rolla does not have a lot to offer. When discussing the woes of limited dining, shopping, and entertainment, we often forget that this small town offers a few hidden gems. One of these is a location in the downtown area that has repeatedly won my business for the last two years. This business, also known for being a local favorite, sits on North Pine Street and is The Reader’s Corner.

The Reader’s Corner is owned and operated by the founder, Larry Bowen. I spoke with Mr. Bowen about his business. He said that the biggest influence when starting the store was the emphasis on customer service. He believes that people are dissatisfied with the same, impersonal experience when shopping. However, this wasn’t the only ingredient in this mix for a successful business. "People have a bad image of used bookstores," Mr. Bowen stated. His vision for The Reader’s Corner set out to change this preconceived idea. He wanted to build a place that attracted customers, offered them the value they wanted, and gave them customer service and personal attention that kept them coming back. This unique philosophy in a world of generic is what makes this bookstore one of the most successful businesses in Rolla today.

When entering The Reader’s Corner, one starts to immediately relax. The warm décor of the building makes you feel as if you could get lost exploring just for the sake of exploration. The tall bookshelves on either side make you feel as if you could drown in the pages themselves (and not in the sense that you have to read 100 pages of a textbook before tomorrow’s lecture, either). The soft jazz music playing on the speakers combined with the rich, inviting aroma makes you feel as if you have stepped into another era entirely. The atmosphere itself has a way of relieving stress before you even have the chance to look around. All of this is just what happens in the first thirty seconds after stepping into the store.

The staff at The Reader’s Corner are always friendly and greet you when entering and exiting the store. They are also knowledgeable and willing to help you find a book out of their 50,000+ inventory. The store can also order books for you if they don’t have what you are looking for. One of the other great features of this store is 50 cent bargain books. If you only have a couple of bucks to spend, this is one place where a dollar will actually buy something. All the books at this store are of great quality and held to the highest standards. Even if you want a place to sell the old books you finished reading but have nowhere to store in your already cramped dorm room, The Reader’s Corner offers a place to sell them for cash or trade to find those books a new home. They offer a wide selection as well – everything from Sci Fi, Fiction, Non Fiction, New Age, Autobiographical, Historical, to Children’s, and many more. I walked into this store based on the suggestion of a friend two years ago, and they continue to win me over each time I have bought, sold, or traded with them. They are a place that proves great shopping experiences can still happen.

Since the day I learned how to read, I was a bookworm. Even with my hectic schedule, I love to have a book or two around (or five or six) to read that is enjoyable and doesn’t include all formulas or paragraphs on ethics. Busy college students need that time to read something that doesn’t tax your brain. If you’ve lost your joy for reading, or are looking for a place to discover it, take a short walk downtown to The Reader’s Corner and get caught up in the pages of something enjoyable for a change.