Local bookstore closes after more than 30 years in business

After more than three decades in business, a bookstore in Pocatello will soon be closing its doors.

Circle C Books has been open for 31 years, but no the owner, Wendy Chambers, feels it’s time to close up shop.

Clive Cussler, John Grisham, Tom Clancy and Stephen King are just a few of the authors that fill all the shelves inside Circle C Books.

Whether it’s a good mystery you love, or romance, a good western, or something else – Circle C kept stocking stories for book lovers for more than 30 years.

Now, Chambers said she’s tired and so it’s time.

“I would really like to retire,” Chambers said. “My husband’s retired and we’d like to do some more traveling. I’ve got grandkids in Colorado, we’re originally from back East, so we’d like to go do some visiting.”

Chambers said over the years of working in books, she’s seen a lot of trends. She said online shopping and e-readers, like Kindles and Ipads, had a major impact on business. But she said there will always be a need for actual books.

She said while e-readers and tablets can have their practical uses, there’s nothing like holding a book in your hand.

“The smell of it and the feel of it is totally different,” Chambers described.

Chambers said she likes to read a lot of different genres to be well-rounded for her customers. She said she can make a lot of recommendations, but she also gets them too. Every week, she learns about four to six new authors from the customers that come in her store.

“It’s not just a business, it’s a service as far as I’m concerned,” she said. “I don’t make an awful lot of money on it, but it sure is fun. And I think that’s going to be my hardest thing is not having my customers.”

Chambers said her many loyal customers that have stayed with her over the year, and her constant new customers, are what’s kept her going.

“I love people and I love books,” Chambers said. “Therefore, we get people and we get books – it’s a match made in heaven. I enjoy talking to people, whether it’s ‘I don’t like this’ or ‘I did like this book’ or ‘What are you into now?’ That’s what makes this.”

Chambers said the hardest part about closing up will be walking out the front door that final day.

Just like any book lover, she said she can’t pick a favorite. She could give you a list of her top 50 authors but she couldn’t tell you top five.

“I’m a book-aholic. I’m hooked on books and I don’t want to get cured.”

Chambers said so far, neither the store nor the building has been sold. She added she worries for her customers about where they can go to get books after she closes, because Pocatello isn’t known for its many bookstores. She added that if anyone is interested in buying the bookstore and keeping it open, let her know.

Circle C Books will close for good July 18.

Until then, the store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.