Books Again: Decatur’s Best Kept Secret?

Jim Adams opened his bookshop in 2001 and still gets the question, ‘How long have you been here?”

Books Again at 225 N. McDonough St., directly across from Decatur High School, is definitely still here. The doors are open – even in the current economy – and there are lots of treasures to be found if you love books of every kind. 

From paperback fiction for a few dollars to rare signed first editions for hundreds, whether you’re a bibliophile or just an avid reader, Adams probably has something you won’t want to live without. 

You'll also get to meet Octavo, the beautiful white bookstore cat who loves to be petted and admired.

After a number of years selling photo equipment, Adams teamed up with Cliff Graubart, former owner of the Old New York Book Shop in Midtown Atlanta, and opened Books Again. 

Adams said he’s always been a huge reader and collector and Graubart, who now sells books from his home, encouraged him to open Books Again.

Adams started with stock from an Asheville, N.C. bookstore, The Captain’s Bookshelf. 

“He made me an offer I couldn’t refuse and, with Cliff’s help, Books Again was born," Adams said.

“It took two 24-foot trucks to bring the books to Decatur and lots of hard work getting them into this location which at the time I was building out.  Cliff even helped me knock down a few walls,” Adams said. 

Now, he has an inventory of more than 30,000 volumes. 

While you can find a book in almost any category, some of the shop’s specialties are modern first editions, Southern literature and history, including the Civil War. 

There is also a large selection of collectable books. Cookbooks, from Southern to international cuisine, can be found as you enter the store. At the back are children’s books, new and old. 

Lately, he says he’s been selling a lot of books on theology. 

If you’re interested in selling books, be warned that Adams is particular about his merchandise. 

“I buy good books in very good condition,” he said.  “Which means I only buy about 10 percent of what I see.”

Selling books these days means selling online too, and Adams gets orders from all over the world. He likes walk-in traffic best. 

The trend to e-books hasn’t affected him as much as the economy has, he said. People are still interested in old, rare, and out-of-print books and, for now at least, you have to buy a "real” book to get those. 

Adams encourages browsing and discussion. He knows his inventory thoroughly and you probably won’t find a better person with whom to “talk books.”

He has a lot of regular customers who frequently can be found in one of the aisles discussing their latest read or who’s the latest author in town. 

The Georgia Center for the Book and the Decatur Book Festival help people become more aware of books – and not just e-books – but of timeless books that may be out of print.

The Book Festival weekend is always good for Books Again. 

“Its’ our Christmas,” Adams said.

Books Again has hosted a few special events of their own, including a reading by local author Estelle Ford-Williamson for her book, "Abbeville Farewell: A Novel of Early Atlanta and North Georgia."

The store also hosted a “Big Read” event last year, in partnership with Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta, as a small group discussed Zora Neal Hurston’s classic "Their Eyes Were Watching God."

Books Again is open from 11 a.m to 6 p.m, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Saturdays.  You can find out more by calling 404-377-1444, going online to http://www.booksagain.net/, or check them out on Facebook.