The Book Box Brings Bargain Books and Community to Pflugerville, Texas

The Book Box opened in Pflugerville, Texas, in September 2009 and word of mouth around Pflugerville is helping the used bookstore's success.

Owner Beth Lee, a 13-year Pflugerville resident, decided to combine her love of books and love of talking to people and start her own business. The mother of three boys traded her soccer mom/PTA member/Scout leader roles for the role of small business owner.

Armed with a garage full of books she had acquired over a year, her energy, and her business idea, Lee went to Texas State University's Small Business Development Center in Round Rock for advice. Weekly assignments from Richard Johnson, her business advisor at the center, generated her business plan, loan application, and organized the myriad details of opening a new business into a cohesive strategy - all at no cost to Lee. Lee is now "boss" with her husband, three sons, parents, and sister in law helping her in this family business.

My visit to The Book Box at 15803 Windermere Drive began with meeting Beth Lee, who is, true to her word a book lover and a talker. She welcomed me to her store and we immediately bonded over Janet Evanovich. I was selling an almost complete set of the Stephanie Plum novels and Beth was just finishing the fourteenth book in the series and had a serious jones on for the fifteenth.

Thanks to Beth's energy and her sister in laws artwork, the mosaic of ceiling tiles, and well-organized book areas, The Book Box has a good vibe. I spent much of my time in the Nonfiction room with its coffee bar, puzzle, and biographies.

In addition to the 13,000+ titles available for purchase, (none cost more than $5), works from local artists are for sale as well. You could easily pick up that book you've wanted to read, a necklace for your girlfriend's birthday, a book for your child's friend's birthday party, and some art for a friend's housewarming.

Each book you take to The Book Box gets you a trade-in credit of .50 or .25 cash. I like that. You know what you're gonna get, unlike the completely unpredictable results of whatever unfathomable algorithm Half Price Books uses. If you opt for the higher trade-in value, you can use 50% of your total to purchase merchandise. Since I am incapable of selling books without buying more books, I traded 17 books for a credit of $8.50. I was able to apply $4.25 toward my book purchase and have the balance waiting for my next visit, which will be sooner rather than later since I love books and Beth is so unbelievably friendly and fun to talk with.

The Book Box wants to be a gathering place for Pflugerville residents and as such offers a place for book clubs to meet, a kid's area with a Lego table and craft and story time, comfortable seating with free Wi-Fi, and a computer/printer for use. I suspect The Book Box will offer even more ways for Pflugerville's residents to connect if Beth's amazing ability to generate new and creative uses for her store continues. There is already a knitting group meeting at The Book Box on Sundays.

Visit the Book Box in Pflugerville

Tuesday-Saturday - 10am-6pm
Sunday - Noon-5pm
CLOSED - Monday
Free local delivery

To contact The Book Box call Beth at 512-989-7324 or e-mail her - bethlee@bethsbookbox.com

Store Motto

"We won't be happy until you've died a thousand tortuous deaths, found your soul mate, swam the deepest river, climbed the highest mountain, fought for the cause, been executed as a traitor, flown to the moon, sailed with pirates, rode with the gang, solved the mystery, found the killer, fallen in love AGAIN and saved the day!"

Sources:

Interview with Beth Lee
http://www.bethsbookbox.com/home