Thoughts about the impending closing of Changing Hands Book Shoppe

In a few months, it will be 20 years since I published my first book, the novel Small Town News, a fictional take on the events of October 31, 2001 when the Bank of Diamond was robbed and Diamond R-4 Superintendent Greg Smith disappeared the same day.

I still remember the excitement when the first shipment arrived in Joplin and I began my search for retail outlets that would carry the book.

My first stop was Changing Hands Book Shoppe on Virginia Avenue owned by John and Susie Davidson. John was two years ahead of me at East Newton High School and I coached his sisters Wendy and Jill on fast pitch softball teams.

I also loved the idea of my books being carried in a store where I had been shopping for years.
John and Susie agreed to carry my books and 20 years and 20 books later, the books are still on their shelves.

Sadly, that welcoming store on Virginia Avenue won't be with us much longer.

Susie posted the following on her Facebook page:

BOOK CUSTOMERS:

We are sorry to announce that our lease has not been renewed and as a result we will have to close this location. Watch for sales and use up any book credit on file prior to September 15th.

GAME CUSTOMERS:

We are continuing to look for a location to keep the game store open. Watch here for updates!
Thanks for being a part of Changing Hands for 32+ years!!

John & Susie

I will miss dropping by the store every week or two. I'm a creature of habit and this one is going to be hard habit to break.

I plan to continue frequenting the store until it closes. They say you don't know what you'll miss until it's gone. In this case, having watched so many independent bookstores fall by the wayside over the past 20 or so years, I know exactly what I'm missing.

That doesn't make it any easier.

Thanks, John and Susie for everything.