Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Elfers.
Hi Chris, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I entered the book business after visiting my brother’s bookstore in Cape Cod, MA. He opened his store about five years before I opened mine. We were both inspired to enter the book business after seeing Tim’s Used Books in Provincetown, MA. We felt that Tim had done a lot to revolutionize the way a brick-and-mortar used bookstore should be run. After a lot of thinking, I decided to pull the trigger and start building an inventory. I spent a number of years working odd jobs while slowly building the stock that would allow me to get my doors open. All in all, there were probably three full years of preparation before I had a concept, an inventory, and a good location. It’s a permanent work in progress. I’m always rethinking the layout, building the inventory, and doing what I can to promote the business. We are currently in the process of expanding the storefront. It will be a few months of building before it is ready to open to the public, but it will essentially double the size of the store.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The book business is not an easy business to be in as an independent start-up. I entered into this venture with that in mind. I didn’t expect to make a dime in profit for the first couple years, but I was pleasantly surprised by how the business took off. It’s still an uphill battle, and there’s still plenty to do before the store reaches its full potential, but it’s been a fun, interesting experience.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Book Brothers is an independent used bookstore located at 15408 Madison Ave, Lakewood OH 44107. We carry thousands of high-quality books, movies, records, video games, etc. (With a heavy emphasis on books, of course). We keep an eclectic selection of books in many genres including fiction, literature, art, pop music, pop culture, history, nature, horror, science fiction, young adult, children’, and more. We take great care to ensure that our products are in excellent condition. One publication said that we had a heavy emphasis on counterculture media.
It is worth noting that we also offer cash payouts for trade-ins. We pay cash for books, video games, records, movies, and other entertainment media. We will even make house calls for large collections. I have personally overseen the procurement of multiple thousands of books from a number of homes.
Overall, we offer a welcoming environment and a thoughtfully curated selection of high-quality books, music, movies, video games, and more.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love Lakewood, specifically, because it has become a cultural beacon. Cleveland is a great city that has been a hotbed of creativity and innovation for generations.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: bookbrothersohio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookbrothersohio/
