Hidden Bookstore Offers Escape for Patrons

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TOM WILEMON | The Daily News

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READING IN MIDTOWN: Karin Morley, the owner of The English Major Bookstore, opened the Midtown business less than a year ago. -- PHOTOS BY TOM WILEMON

Tucked in a corner and barely visible from Madison Avenue, The English Major Bookstore is the perfect place to browse for a good read without worrying about pocketbook woes or stumbling over crowds.

“Today, a lady called it her escape,” said owner Karin Morley, who opened the store at Tap into millions of public records, notices and articles on The Daily News.

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Crowded comfort

Parking is limited, but Morley does get walk-in traffic because she’s sandwiched between two Midtown haunts, the Audiomania vintage record store and the Lamplighter Lounge beer and burger joint. Morley values developing repeat customers more than making a quick profit.

“I price a book based on the condition and what I think I can sell it for, but I’m a mom and pop store without the pop right now,” she said. “If you can make an offer, unless it’s a really expensive book, I want you to come back. If you have $4, I’ll take $4 for a book. That’s really been a good deal to learn how to be more generous because I want you to come back.”

The English Major is a crowded, yet comfortable space where tattered chairs are strategically placed and pets aren’t shy about claiming their spots. On a recent rainy day, Fritz, a gray and white cat, lounged in a cardbox box, while Muriel, a chihuahua-mix, stayed close to Morley.

Original art hangs high on the walls over the bookshelves. Morley said she’s looking for more artists to showcase their work.

She admits that her business is not the place to go looking for a specific book.

“Sometimes, I can fulfill that demand, but there (are) several people who go away without the book they were looking for, which makes me feel like I should have every book in the world, which I don’t,” she said.

Getting started

The business gets its name because Morley was an English major at the University of Memphis, where she graduated from in 2004. Morley is a 12-year resident of the city and also works as a carriage driver Downtown.

Owning a bookstore has been a long-time dream for Morley, who received guidance from the Memphis Renaissance Business Center and counselors from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives).

“This is my starter store, and I really believe that. It may not be the best location, but it’s the best location for what’s going on right now.”
– Karin Morley
Owner, The English Major Bookstore

Ideally, she’d like a location with more parking, but Morley said she is considering putting a bicycle rack out front to compensate for that.

“This is my starter store, and I really believe that,” she said. “It may not be the best location, but it’s the best location for what’s going on right now. The parking is not that great. A lot of people say that. It took a long time for people to realize I was here. I’m tucked away back in a corner. I’m just not super noticeable.”

The store has about 14,000 books. Morley takes donations, buys titles and trades books.

Chris Mabry helped her clean, renovate and move into the location.

CAT NAPPING: Fritz, one of the store pets at The English Major Bookstore, soaks up some literature through his furry coat. -- PHOTO BY TOM WILEMON

“We’re in kind of economic bad times,” Mabry said. “Karen is providing reading for people who couldn’t afford it otherwise. The store is set up to be a comfortable place for people to come in, to sit down, to read a book and to look around and maybe spend some money and buy a book at a very deflated cost.”

Morley said she’s made her share of mistakes running the first-time business, such as her initial decision to stay open on Sundays.

“Nobody came in,” she said. “I was here if people wanted to come in, but nobody ever did.”

Now, she spends her Sundays Downtown taking Memphis visitors on carriage rides. Several of the people she’s met that way have ended up shopping at her store.

“A lot of times, I pull back and I think I really like being small – especially since it’s a first-time business,” Morley said. “I can make these mistakes and they are not affecting very many people.”

She said her wisest decision was to start out small with a one-woman operation, but she hopes to grow the business.

“I do want an employee at some point, or a couple of them,” Morley said. “They are going to be so well taken care of. I would appreciate them being here so much.”