Newly Opened Amanita Books Fills Niche for a Used and Rare Bookshop
quarter-century of collecting culminates in cozy new shop
Kelly Carlson, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
In a purposefully dark and cozy spot on Hastings Way in Eau Claire, Amanita Books, the newest bookstore in town, fills its walls with mythical wonders and its shelves with untold secrets. Inspired by woodland creatures and imaginations of literature, Amanita Books is the perfect spot to find and sell used and rare books while discovering something new.
The owners, Severin and Jaimie Marshall, quietly opened the store on Nov. 10 but have been collecting books and treasures for their shop for nearly 25 years. Opening a used bookstore was a dream of the Marshalls ever since their move from Washington state. “Wisconsin has certainly charmed us, and we really like the Eau Claire area a lot, but one thing we miss about living in Washington is the access we had to local, used bookstores,” they said. “Being collectors of many things, collecting books just kind of began naturally for us.”
Bringing together books from their personal library, donations from the community, miscellaneous purchases from various second-hand sites, and more, Amanita is flourishing with history and untold stories. “We have several modern first editions, from authors such as Asimov, Kerouac, Hesse, and Tolkien. There is also a full case of vintage pocketbook paperbacks, printed between 1940-80s, as well as many antique and vintage children’s books,” they said. They also feature used sections of fiction, drama, cooking, memoirs, children’s literature, nonfiction, and more. “The goal for the store was to provide a little bit of something for everybody,” the couple said.
While the rare books are kept in a locked glass case, other used books have thrones of their own on the store’s double-sided bookcases originally used in the Milwaukee Public Library. The dark, solid oak from the 1800s perfectly reflects the gently used stories that rest on them, waiting to be picked up and read again.
Amanita Books accepts used books for cash or trade-in credit. The titles they choose to purchase depend on condition, demand, and other factors.
With an earthly, organic, and welcoming aesthetic, Amanita welcomes the Chippewa Valley to peruse, stay imaginative, and find something new.
Stop into Amanita Books at 1500 S. Hastings Way, Eau Claire. Keep up with the bookshop on Facebook.
