Birmingham Bookseller Offers a Long Tradition of Service and Innovation

"Like son, like father," Alabama Booksmith owner Jake Reiss III describes his foray into bookselling to BTW. His son Jake IV sold books door-to-door; son Frank became manager of Acorn Books in San Francisco then moved to Atlanta and opened the still thriving A Capella Books in the late '80s. Jake's brother Norman also sold books, at Malone's Bookstore in Tuscaloosa.

Jake III followed the book-buying process with his son Frank and began acquiring inventory. In 1990, once his house could hold no more books, he leased a building in Birmingham's bohemian district and opened The Highland Booksmith, a used bookstore. A few years later new books were added. On August 21, 1995, at 6:00 p.m., The Booksmith experienced its "defining moment," according to Reiss. Don Keith, author of The Forever Season, presented the store's very first reading and signing. Since then, hundred of authors have come to the store and more have been invited by The Booksmith to appear at large writing conferences and events.

In July 1999, when the store could barely hold more books or events, the Reisses bought an old office building in the nearby town of Homewood, Alabama. After 90 days of extensive renovations, improvements, and the help of 40 customers transporting 100,000 books, the renamed Alabama Booksmith opened its doors.

The new 3,600-square-foot space affords ample room for the store's large collection of new, used, and out-of-print books; a free coffee bar; three custom-made Book Sense display racks; and parking for 125 vehicles. The store specializes in southern writers, particularly those with a connection to Alabama. Also featured are out-of-print books. For the past seven years, bookseller Mike Herring has drawn on his 20 years of experience as a book collector to track down nearly any book requested.

The Reiss family has been providing special attention to customers in Alabama since 1899, when it began its custom tailoring business. Reiss told BTW that it is the oldest tailoring business in the United Stated still owned by the same family and has suited the likes of Bob Hope and George H. Bush. Jake IV now runs the tailoring business, while Jake III works mostly at the bookstore. Daily operations at the store are handled by manager Michael Davis, who "deserves more ink than I," says Reiss.

Reiss attributes a large part of the store's success to its participation in the Book Sense marketing program and BookSense.com, "We really love Book Sense … the lists have generated a loyal following, and we hand the flyers around all over. Customers browse the three racks we had built just for Book Sense books. And we're thrilled to death with BookSense.com. We have used it quite well to help people find us. The new store is incredibly difficult to find … on a dead-end street in an area of wholesalers."

The content-rich Alabama Booksmith site includes explicit directions; entries on the 100 or so Alabama-affiliated authors, with biographies, photos, and bibliographies; and a weekly schedule of the store's featured coffee flavors (if it's Thursday, it's hazelnut).

Jake Reiss does not see himself as a computer whiz; in fact, he used the term "electronically impaired," to describe himself and several other staff members. "But," he tells BTW, "we share the load. The BookSense.com people make it so easy. They've helped us with the whole thing. If someone as old and fumbling as I am can do … anyone can."

-- Nomi Schwartz