50 years later, one of Mississippi’s first independent bookstores is still standing – and stronger than ever.
Lemuria Books, a staple of not only Jackson but also the state as a whole, will soon celebrate the major milestone of serving as a community-minded literary lighthouse for half a century.
On Saturday, April 11, an “all-day party” will take place at Cathead Distillery in Jackson to honor the past and continued impact Lemuria has in the area. Headlined by legendary bluesman Bobby Rush, the event will feature live music, food trucks, specialty cocktails and, of course, story time for young readers, along with opportunities for authors to share how the bookstore has shaped their professional and personal lives.
“The whole purpose of a small business and surviving in such a competitive environment is to figure out ways to add value and figure out ways to be part of your community,” Lemuria Books owner John Evans said. “For us, it was bringing in writers that we love, and it was supporting the writers that we have here. Of course, we have so many friends who have supported the bookstore.”
Children’s activities, including photo opportunities with popular book characters and a scavenger hunt, will begin at 11 a.m. and run until 2 p.m. Admission will be free. The more adult-friendly festivities kick off at 2 p.m. and run until 10 p.m. Admission is $25 with tickets available for purchase here.
Other acts taking the stage include the Jacktown USA Band with Eddie Cotton, Zac Harmon, Dexter Allen, Rashad the Blues Kid, and Chad Wesley, the Kenny Brown Trio, and Michael Farris Smith & The Smokes. The party is hosted by Lee King.
History of Lemuria Books
Lemuria Books was opened by Evans in 1975 in a converted apartment stuffed with books in The Quarter on Lakeland Drive in Jackson. Two years later, the bookstore moved to Highland Village shopping mall along I-55 North frontage road, where it remained for the next 11 years. In 1988, Lemuria moved across the interstate and into Banner Hall, where it seized an opportunity to expand its inventory.
With new hardbacks, paperbacks, and a children’s section called “OZ,” Lemuria boasts that it has something for everyone. The store specializes in signed first editions and its First Edition Club has been going strong for more than 25 years. The store carries an array of genres, from gardening to Zen and history to music, but its bread and butter is using its unique platform to highlight literary fiction, especially works by Southern writers.
Half a century in the book business has given Lemuria valuable author relationships, most notably with Jackson native Eudora Welty. The store has also welcomed authors throughout their careers, including Willie Morris, Barry Hannah, Ellen Gilchrist, Jim Harrison, Richard Ford, Larry Brown, John Grisham, Greg Iles, Jesmyn Ward, and Angie Thomas, among many others. By hosting signing events almost every week, Lemuria offers Mississippi readers plenty of chances to meet a beloved author or discover a new favorite.
“Small business is about making friends. I keep telling young people all the time that you support yourself with friendship. You can give friendship to support others,” Evans said. “That’s the magic of what books are. They have a wide variety of customers that you have the ability to expose yourself to. My customer base is so interestingly broad. You never have the same conversation twice.”
Upcoming happenings at Lemuria
In addition to the upcoming birthday party at Cathead Distillery, Lemuria has a packed schedule of authors coming to visit the store and meet readers. The next couple of months include Ellen Morris (April 16), Rhonda Lynn DiBiase (April 21), Dan Ellens (April 30), Kathryn Stockett (May 6), Garrett Ashley (May 9), Joey Schewee (May 12), Dan Jones (May 21), and Jesmyn Ward (May 28).
The store’s full schedule of events can be found here.