5 Star Story: Historic Mississippi bookstore celebrates 45 years in business

OXFORD, Miss. (WMC) - In these days of online ordering, there’s something nostalgic about walking into a busy bookstore, getting a big whiff of that new book smell, and seeing people relaxing into a soft chair while browsing through a good book.

Square Books on the historic Oxford, Mississippi, town square is a great place for doing just that. And this week’s 5 Star Story shows that, although the store’s beginnings were humble, it has since grown into a 10-thousand-square-foot literary juggernaut.

The Oxford, Mississippi, town square was first made legendary in the 1920s by future Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner. But even now, it maintains a rich literary legacy.

“We’re lucky we’re in Mississippi. It’s such a rich literary state. There’s so many great writers; there’s probably 30 writers living here, right now,” explained Cody Morrison, the inventory manager at Square Books on the Oxford Square.

The town’s first real bookstore was established in 1979 by Lisa and Richard Howorth.

“I’d say $10,000. I went to see Mr. Cooper at the bank next door four times to ask for another $10,000. Finally got it and that’s kind of what we started on,” described Richard Howorth about getting the financing needed to open his first bookstore on the square.

After renovations, with help from family and friends, the Howorths opened up shop in a small upstairs location on the east side of the square. And from the start, Square Books was a hit.

“I remember the night we opened. We had an opening night party and the next day we sold... we were selling lots of books. It was like, ‘Oh my goodness, we’re gonna sell all the books we have,’” Howorth chuckled as he recalled that September opening night.

The bookstore’s customer base has always centered around Oxford and the University of Mississippi, but the selection of books focuses on literature about Mississippi and the South, which is something that wasn’t commonly found on most bookstore shelves when Square Books first opened.

“Let’s admit it, we’ve all had a difficult past in lots of ways and so, part of what we’re trying to do with the store, not to be too grandiose, is make a positive statement with respect to all of that,” Howorth said.

That inventory, coupled with book signings and readings with the authors, only added to the store’s profit and literary fame.

“Also there were some famous writers: Willie Morris from Mississippi and later Barry Hannah were here to help give them, you know, a base of literary writers to draw from,” stated Morrison.

Within a few short years, Square Books needed more room and found it in a historic two-story building on the north side of the square.

“The people who owned this business, it was a drug store, as I say, the father had been gone for a while and the family decided they would sell it. So I bought this building in 1984,” Howorth said.

After two years of renovations, Square Books moved into the former Blaylock drug store, complete with a second-story balcony and cafe, where the first espresso was sold in Oxford.

Then, in late 1993, Howorth opened an annex at 129 Courthouse Square, just a short stroll away from the main store.

“And it’s our lifestyle store. It has cooking, gardening, magazines, travel, some used books. It’s also where we host our events,” Morrison explained.

The “Off-Square Books” location also hosts roughly 150 different authors every year, with lesser-known and famous writers like John Grisham who once lived in the area.

“We supported him very early on in his career. In turn, he’s supported us,” Morrison said, and added, “We’ve gotten, you know, far and wide, authors from all over the country and all over the world to come and, you know, it’s on the square... which is rather idyllic.”

Today, Square Books consists of four different stores all on the Oxford Square, including Square Books, Junior which is filled with books, games and toys for kids of all ages.

“So they’ve got their very own place and they know it. As soon as they walk in the door, they’re in heaven,” Howorth declared.

Just above the children’s bookstore, in the same spot where it all started 44 years ago, is “Rare Square Books” featuring vintage collectibles and first editions.

With a total of roughly 50,000 titles, avid readers are bound to find something in either location.

“This racket of noise that we have today from social media and you know, everybody just shooting at each other, books contain, you know, a quiet but often persuasive argument for some of that,” said Howorth when asked what it was that made bookstores so special.

Richard Howorth also served as Mayor of Oxford from 2001 through 2009 and he is also a former president of the American Booksellers Association, a non-profit trade association founded that promotes independent bookstores in the United States.

Square Books also hosts the popular Thacker Mountain Radio Show live on Thursday evenings.

For more information about Square Books, click here.

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