Thursday, November 1, 2018

Gone!

Another Jackson institution becomes nothing but a slab.

Choctaw Books closed several years but the building remained, until this week. Many an afternoon was passed at Choctaw Books over the years, as the used bookstore was a mine filled with literary gems.  Farewell, old friend.








27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Next!

Anonymous said...

I absolutely loved this place. It was a fantastic way to spend a Saturday morning, and it had a ton of things that only locals would be interested in.

Anonymous said...

Yawn.

Choctaw Books was one of those places that many claimed to love, but few ever actually patronized. The proof of that is in the closing. Few were actually going there, and fewer were purchasing books from there. The couple of times I went, it was messy and disorganized and uninviting - like poking around in your grandma's attic.

Same thing when Bebop Records closed. The hipsters whined on cue about its closing, but if all the Fondrenites and Free Pressers had actually BOUGHT music from there, it would be open today. No, it's much easier to blame everyone else when that quaint little establishment that you love being there but never frequent has to close its doors.

"Why didn't all you other people shop there?"

Anonymous said...

Books? We ain't got no stinkin' books.

Anonymous said...

10:21 is right. It was a book hoard, not a book store. It seemed like most of the books had significant mold damage, and did not seem organized in any way shape or form. People still shop at Lemuria for new books. It would be nice to have a used book store-but a short trip to Memphis (Burkes) or down to New Orleans does it...

Anonymous said...

Sadly this and BeBop's closing are partially because of the I-age where people would rather just buy it online or read/listen to an electronic copy without leaving the couch. How The Little Big Store in Raymond has remained in business I have no idea.

Anonymous said...

No worries. Most of the city council can't read. Ask them about the 35,000 moldy books. 'nuf said.

PittPanther said...

11:24am, vinyl will keep record stores open. People want to hear the snaps and pops of an actual needle on a record, and you can't get that from Spotify.

Anonymous said...

11:24 - I'm sure their gardening efforts help supplement the record business.

Anonymous said...

Another building right beside it was demolished too. Does anyone know if anything will be erected on the property? Word is a coffee shop will be located in the old YMCA Headquarters Building. Go Belhaven!

Anonymous said...

926 North St

Anonymous said...

9:27, try to find something original. The next crap is getting old.

Anonymous said...

I think Fred was able to get some of his stock out of there, but a lot of books were plowed under in the demolition. He had sold the building over the summer to William and Jerry Lake (the latter of Carter's Jewelers fame), and the new owners may have gotten impatient and just demolished the building. In any case, there are a lot of books scattered around the site.

Between this and the Tisdale Library debacle, it hasn't been a good week for books in Jackson.

Anonymous said...

Jerry Lake you say! Oh shit! Now there will be a big sale in Vicksburg and Jackson at Carter Jewelers. Not a rain damage sale! Not a holiday sale! Not a mold or hail-damage sale! But a sale of all diamonds due to bulldozer damage miles away. Everything half off plus half and then take another 40% off. And a free cutting of a rose from Greenwood Cemetery said to have grown withing sixty feet of Eudora's resting place.

Anonymous said...

There's that nice book store over between northside and the Lutheran Church, if you're looking -- the name completely slips my mind. It's in that three story building that you can see from I-55, there's a nice little coffee/lunch spot on the first floor.

Anonymous said...

For those wanting a good, clean, current, etc used bookstore. Go to the bookrack in Canton Mart #6.

Anonymous said...

7:43 I believe you're referring to the bookstore that faces out towards St. Richard's Catholic Church, unless there's two churches on that street. I also forget the name right now, but it's the store that has authors come in periodically and sign copies of their books.

Kingfish said...

I think Jimmy Buffet once held a book signing there at the bookstore with no name.

Johnny Weir said...

@ 7:43 pm, @ 9:31 PM & @ KF 10:08 PM The bookstore is called Lemuria Books & the coffee shop is called Broadstreet Bakery. Both 5 star rated.

Kingfish said...

Yeah, right. Who are you trying to kid?

Anonymous said...

I never saw any mold at Choctaw Books. A book is a terrible thing to waste!

I Can't Remember Either..Weed Does That said...

Jimmy Buffet wrote a book?

Anonymous said...

There was no mold at Choctaw. It was a diggers bookstore but the owner was a one man show and had no help running it including his immediate family. He was overwhelmed with just trying to survive and couldn’t put the effort into organizing backstock, etc. however the front (the most valuable or rare books) were well organized. I got many good books for fair prices from there over three decades. It is easy to criticize but I am sad that it closed years ago and now is gone for good. It is hard to survive these days selling in a bricks and mortar actual store anything one can buy cheaper on EBay or Amazon. New and used books are at the top of that category. I am just glad that Lemuria has survived. So far.

Kingfish said...

True. However, when he rebuilt after the fire, the place was very neat. No books in the aisles, for example. Instead of keeping it that way, he just allowed it to get cluttered up again. However, every time I asked him about a book, he knew where it was or what it was about.

Anonymous said...

I would like to invite everyone to check out The Book Rack in Canton Mart Square! It has been around for 50 years and is a lovely used bookstore. I’ve been a customer there for over 25 years!

Louis LeFleur said...

Glad to see some people set the record straight on what a great place Choctaw Books was vs. some of the early comments yesterday. Also about how knowledgeable and helpful Fred was. Doesn't much matter about it being torn down since it closed 2-3 (?) years ago, but said to hear it apparently still had some inventory in it. Tempted to say something about Jerry Lake not appreciating something of real value like a book, but... Wonder what they are planning to do with the property. Can't imagine they would move Carter Jewelers there even though they could definitely use the parking space.

Anonymous said...

@12:30 - Mr Buffett has written several books, many NY Times bestsellers. The few I have read are quite entertaining...



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.