John EvansFounder & Owner, Lemuria Books
In 1975, John Evans and his wife Mel decided to create an alternative bookstore, named after the submerged and forgotten continent of Lemuria. Intended to foster a counterculture mentality in my hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, the store occupied a converted apartment on the backside of a small shopping complex. The balcony faced a swamp, and the tiny Lemuria storefront was nestled between a ladies’ dress shop and Poet’s, the best music bar and restaurant in town.
Fifty years later, my hometown bookstore continues to thrive as a hub for readers and writers alike. A “place where the books talk to each other,” Lemuria has, in fact, become an institution that has managed to solve for the tectonic shifts that have changed the bookselling industry during its remarkable 5 decade run. From malls and mass distribution, from ebooks to Amazon, Lemuria continues to be a place to find real books, real readers, and a better reading experience.
John Evans is our guest today on The @Work Podcast.
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