Ah, back to the blog here after a bit of hiatus for some
important conservation networking!
Having to spend four days staying at the incredible Boulder Mt. Lodge in
Boulder,UT and eating at the equally remarkable Hell’s Backbone Grill was tough
duty but I was up to it! Sometimes, in
this continued battle to protect the best of what remains on our public lands,
we old warriors get a treat instead of a kick!
Not long ago, while spending some time in Salt Lake City, I
made time to visit one of the true bibliophile Mecca’s of the area, the iconic Weller Book Works. Those who have search
out great book stores in the area before will be quite familiar with the Weller
family operations, part of the Salt Lake literary scene for over 85 years. From its beginnings by Gus and Margaret
Weller as Zion Books to the iconic Sam Weller’s Books in 1939 to the new Weller
Book Works today, it has been the truly the iconic bookstore of Salt Lake City.
Gus and Margaret Weller's Zion Books
Up until fairly recently, they occupied a wonderful store down
on Main street in old town Salt Lake City.
But in the last year, due to the same economic considerations that have
plagued all 21st century booksellers in this era of steadily moving
towards digital media, they were forced to move to a new location. Their new location is at Trolley Square and
is admittedly, much different than the quirky old store. When I first visited the new location, I was
a bit saddened and was not sure if I really cared for it. But in a couple of subsequent trips back to
the Trolley Square store, I began to find that this location had an interesting
character of its own and I think I like it!
It is not the old store but it is going to be just fine!
The Sam Weller Books most of us knew
The lower level of the store is a mixture of new and used books
which can be found pretty much in the general shelf categories that bookies are
accustomed to seeing. For me personally,
they have a superb nature and natural history section with a very strong
selection. So strong in fact, that I
ended up dropping over $80 in their register.
The upper level is primarily rare books and set and is equally as well
organized and worth the time to peruse even if you are not in the market for
one.
A view of the inside of the new Weller Book Works
One of the authors that I very avidly collect is W.H.
Hudson. Hudson was a very gifted nature
writer of the the later 19th and early 20th
centuries. A perceptive eye for nature
combined with an exceptional gift for great prose made him an author who would prove an
inspiration for an entire generation of nature writers who followed. Hudson was a very prolific writer, having
produced some 40 books in his life time with another five published
posthumously from his notes. He wrote both
fiction and non-fiction but the bulk of his work was non-fiction. He was raised in Argentina, the son of
American parents and moved to England as an adult where he remained for the
rest of his life.
So when I was perusing the shelves and came across three of
his books I did not yet have in my collection, I was helpless to resist! Added to my library were: The
Naturalist in La Plata (1893), Birds
and Man (1920), and A Hind in
Richmond Park (1923). I have only
four other Hudson volumes in my collection so I was thrilled to get these but
have a long way to go toward completing the set!
Before leaving the store, I took the time to visit with Tony
Weller, who along with his wife Catherine, are the owners of the store. As I’ve found nearly always the case when
visiting with those who are owners of used bookstores, he was a colorful
character and I very much enjoyed our visit!
Tony told me that he really first started working at the
store (versus just being there) when he was about 16 and now over 40 years
later, he still can't imagine doing anything else. When he told me that there are many days that
he thought at the end of the day “Wow, already time to close up and go home” it
brought a smile to me. I can appreciate
being lost in a sea of books. Tony is
certainly one of the most knowledgeable owners I’ve ever visited with and his
expertise makes their stock outstanding and in demand.
One of the somewhat unique business traits of Weller’s is
that they only buy books by appointment.
I think that not such a bad idea.
It ensure that the seller gets some one-on-one time with a competent
buyer and Tony indicated that since they had gone to that method of purchasing,
the number of stolen books that were brought in had almost dropped to nil.
I can tell you from my visits to this delightful place that
one thing has not changed in the move from the old location to the new. It still contains one of the most
knowledgeable and helpful staffs I have ever encountered in any store. None of these folks just “work here.” Books are clearly a passion for all of them
and it shows when you need information or have a special request.
The rich tradition of fine books and great service that Gus
and Margaret started back in 1925 still lives at Wellers. Take the time to stop in and look through the
stacks. You’ll find, as I do when I’m
there that time ceases and you can be lost in a world of fine literature and
exceptional authors. Just like me, you
will be lured back, time and time again, to search and see what might be new
since your last visit.
Weller Book Works
607 Trolley Square
Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City, UT
801.328.2586
http://www.samwellers.com
