Feline rules roost at book store

Calvin the cat resides in Calvin’s Used Books and tries to greet everyone who comes in.

By Joshua Clark
staff writer

Branson is famous for having many stores and businesses that are perfect for finding that one speciality item. One such place, Calvin’s Used Books, is located just off the strip across the street from Applebee’s and the Apple Tree Mall.

“We have had the store for over 19 years,” owner and operator Heidi Sampson said. “We buy, sell and trade books, of which we have a little bit of everything.”

The space was an operational bookstore roughly one-third of its current size when Sampson took over. As the business expanded, so did the need for more room. The management team also grew two years into the business when a kitten showed up at the front door.

“Someone dropped him off in the parking lot and he made his way to my door,” Sampson said. “I brought him in, fed him and tried to get rid of him, but after about two weeks, all anyone wanted to know was where the cat was.”

Sampson thought he was a girl and named him Jane.

“I was trying to be literary,” she said with a smile. “I really don’t remember where the name Calvin came from.”

The store was originally named “Half Price Books of the Ozarks,” but when Sampson incorporated the business in 2000, she found there was already a “Half Price” chain.

“We needed to come up with a name, and by that time, almost anyone who came through the door had two questions: ‘Where’s Calvin?’ and then ‘I’m looking for this book,’” Sampson said.

She decided on the name Calvin’s Used Books. They specialize in used books including trade paperbacks, pocket books, hardbacks and even rare books.

“My most expensive one now is $125,” Sampson said.

They do not accept text books or Reader’s Digest condensed books, and they also have a policy on trading Harlequin Romances, westerns and true crime books.

“We trade out romance for romance, true crime for true crime and so on,” Sampson said. “Everything else just depends on what type of books they are.”

The recession hasn’t hurt the used book business, something Sampson is glad to see.

“Some resale shops said they tend to see spikes during a recession, but that hasn’t happened here,” Sampson said. “We are happy to stay the same from this year to last year.”

In addition to the wide array of books, tourists and locals alike love to stop by and see Calvin.

“I love going in there to get some books and hang out with that cat,” Branson resident Leslie Gilmore said. “He is so friendly and cuddly.”

Calvin maintains a permanent residence in the store and even has his own room on top of one of the shelves, which he is known to leap from one to the other. He also likes to get in the laps of customers.

“If he wants to sit on you, he will,” Sampson said. “If he asks permission, he thinks people will say no, so if you’re on the ground its an open invitation.”

Calvin is now 17 years old and in good health. He had a bout of bronchitis last year and lost some weight. Sampson says Calvin then discovered he could move about much easier. As far as the hijinks from his younger days, Calvin has calmed down.

“One of his favorite games is to hide and scare people who don’t know he is there,” Sampson said. “When he was younger he would hide in the bookshelves and jump out at unsuspecting customers.”

Calvin has been living in the store for the past 17 years and shows no signs of slowing down.

“He has never hurt anyone, but his patience isn’t what it used to be when dogs come in the shop,” Sampson said. “He likes to pop them on the nose to let them know they are in his house.”

Calvin’s Used Books is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and is located at 1819 76 Country Boulevard, Unit C. For more information, call 417-334-7970.