Downtown square to lose
treasured book store, gift shop

Kim Everett | January 25, 2012

After 31 years of being in the business of selling books, Dolores Bell is preparing to close her downtown Garland store, Books ‘n Stuff.  “It’s time after 31 years of doing this, along with the fact that I’m going to be 80 in September,” she said.  “I love what I do…I’ll miss it.  I love chatting with people and helping them pick out books, but it’s time.”

The personal service provided by Bell, Donna Underwood, and until a few years ago, Shirley Lindsey, has become a special tradition to customers through the years and many will miss it.  “I still have people come in here that came in at the other store on Fifth Street where the store was for the first 10 years,” Bell said. 

She and her husband Harold have projects they want to do and they love to travel, so that is part of the reason for closing the store.   However, it also has to do with the inactivity on the square.  “Jones Hardware has been gone for maybe 17 years and with all the empty buildings I can probably count on one hand the people that come in here that were just out walking on the square,” she said.  “We’ve felt for a number of years that the city just kind of forgot about the square because they were more interested in Firewheel and then they were interested in the apartments and the square has just kind of been left hanging…there’s really not a lot to bring people down here.” 

The book store owner also said that the economy, the Internet and electronic reading devices have played a part in the declining business.  When she opened her store, there were six or seven other small book stores in Garland, but they are all gone now.  There will no longer be a book store in Garland at which customers can expect the same type of service that Books ‘n Stuff has offered for the last 31 years.

“Half Price Books and Barnes and Noble will be the only book stores in town, and customers do not get the kind of attention at these stores that they are accustomed to receiving at Books ‘n Stuff,” she said.  

There are stores in Rockwall and Terrell where Bell said that customers can get personal attention, and she is recommending those to her customers.  “There are many people who like the smaller, homey feel of the store and the type of service we provide,” she said. 

Bell and her employees have always been happy to walk around the store with customers to help them find what they want or to recommend titles, a service that customers do not get at the large book stores or discount houses. 

There is an element of sadness for both Bell and her customers.  “One lady asked me who was going to tell her what to read, and another said that the news of the store closing had ruined her Christmas.”

Christmas items are already being sold at 50 percent off, and on February 1, prices will be marked down storewide.  Bell isn’t certain how long the store will remain open but thinks it will probably be through March.  Everything will be sold including shelving, racks, and other fixtures.  She has also devised a plan for customers who currently have trade-in credit.

Wild West comes to downtown Garland

Kim Everett | October 30, 2011 -- Photos by Anita Goebel

Cowboys and cowgirls of all ages enjoyed the third annual Wild West Cowboy Roundup in downtown Garland on Saturday, October 22.

CB Luce of the Garland Opry had outstanding musical entertainment planned throughout the day for the enjoyment of festival attendees.  There was great food, along with a variety of vendors.

The Jim Paul Miller Fiddlers’ Contest, which featured musicians of all age groups, was planned by the Friends of Olde Downtown Garland and held in the Zion Church.

The Kids’ Corral offered balloon animals by local attorney Donna Harris, pony rides, a petting zoo, games, fingerprinting by Garland’s Noon Exchange Club, crafts with local Home Depot employees and representatives from First United Methodist Church, and more.  Children also made Christmas cards with the Ladies’ Auxiliary from VFW Post 5076, which will be sent to deployed military members.

The roundup was presented by the Garland Downtown Business Association, and they would like to thank all the sponsors, volunteers, performers, and vendors that made the event possible.

Downtown business to
celebrate grand opening

Kim Everett | October 7, 2011

Shelton Arms, a new downtown Garland business located at 605 Main Street, offers a variety of services for gun enthusiasts as well as for those whose sole interest is protection of home and family.

Owners Brad and Vicki Shelton are making plans to celebrate their grand opening during the Wild West Cowboy Roundup on Saturday, October 22.  Visitors to their booth at the Wild West event will have an opportunity to register for hourly prize drawings and visit with owners Brad and Vicki Shelton about classes and club memberships.  Hourly prizes will include gun cleaning kits, camping sets, gift certificates for local restaurants, and more.  At the end of the day, one person will win a Hi-Point C9, 9MM pistol. (Winner must be at least 21 years of age and legally able to own a gun.)

In addition to the retail side of the business, Shelton Arms offers the lowest priced concealed handgun classes in the Metroplex; membership in their discount gun club, which includes a chance to win monthly prizes; gun cleaning services; and they have a Federal Firearm License for transfers.  They will soon be adding self-defense instruction.

Upon completion of Shelton Arms’ CHL class, participants receive a free one-year membership at a Royse City gun range.

Vicki, who grew up in Garland, is pleased with their decision to move their business from Rockwall to downtown Garland.  “I’m a Garland girl.  My parents live five minutes from here,” she said.  “The people in downtown have been great, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

She said that she and her husband are in this business because they believe in what they are doing.  “I believe we have the right to have firearms to use for traditionally lawful purposes such as home or self-defense, which is consistent with the 2^nd Amendment,” Vicki said. “We want to provide a friendly, safe atmosphere for all people to come and learn the laws and get knowledge about firearms for all experience levels, from the beginner to the most experienced.”

She said that is why they are so passionate about the CHL classes.  “Even if you decide not to carry, the information you learn is invaluable,” she said. “We are a very patriotic family and we love what America was founded on and want to keep it that way.”

Brad, who grew up in Dallas, works as a sales manager at a Garland company.  At the end of his regular workday, he goes to Shelton Arms and works a while longer.  Both he and Vicki are dedicated to the success of their family-owned business. 

“We at Shelton Arms hold God, the Constitution, and American values as sacred.  Our great nation would not be great without the sacrifice, vision, and conviction of our forefathers,” Brad said.  “We are the only country in the world that trusts its citizens in being armed.  It is what created our freedom; it is what has preserved our freedom; and it is what will secure our future freedom.”

“Our goal is to honor this foundation in a safe family-friendly environment with integrity by offering quality instruction, awesome customer service, value in membership, and creative focus on our clients’ needs,” he continued.  “We will work diligently to earn our customers’ loyalty and will 'always shoot straight' and help you 'spend le$$ shooting.'"