By James Rincon

Pflag Reporter

The Book Box opened in Pflugerville just three months ago, but local owner Beth Lee has already stirred up buzz about her bargain bookery.

“The community and my friends telling other people has been a great help,” Lee said. “Almost every person that comes in tells us that they heard about us from a friend. The community support’s been incredible. Just the word-of-mouth going around has been incredible.”

Before setting up shop at 15803 Windermere Drive, Lee spent her days as a soccer mom, a PTA member, a room parent and Scout leader for her three sons, Jake, Josh and Nick. Now she spends her days with the other men in her life – Hemmingway, Twain and Shakespeare.

“I love books and I love to talk to people, so I thought this would be a great job,” Lee said. “I just like to read. I like to read and I like to talk, and I have a lot of energy.”

Lee said she decided to use her energy to start a business when her youngest son Nick started second- grade. With no business background, Lee went to Texas State University’s Small Business Development Center in Round Rock for advice.

“Almost all small businesses start with [an idea.] Somebody usually has an idea – sometimes they’re good ideas and sometimes they’re not,” said Richard Johnson, who is Lee’s business advisor at the development center. “In Beth’s case she did a lot of primary research on her own to come up with realistic numbers.”

In August Lee’s idea became reality, but she hasn’t stopped brainstorming for her next big project.

“The first Friday of each month we have a chess meeting at 7 p.m. Knitting group meets Sunday at noon. Story time every Saturday usually with a craft project as well. It’s very child friendly I recommend it for kids 2 through 6 but anybody’s welcome to come,” Lee said. “We also have discounts for fireman, policeman and teachers.”

The entire store is Lee’s brainchild; from the artwork on the walls that Lee commissioned her sister in law to paint to the motley mosaic of ceiling tiles that, for $4, customers can decorate for all to see.

The Book Box hosts a myriad of events for all ages to enjoy, but Lee’s latest undertaking is for adults only.

We’re going to start having an adult story time. It’s for 18 and over. It’s going to be on Sunday nights, and we’re going to have the first trial … to see how it goes,” Lee said. “The guys were telling me about this who pitched it to me, and I was like ‘OK we’ll try it.’ They have a group that meets in Austin and they were like, ‘We think a lot of people will come to this one too because its most north and for some people it will be more convenient.’ They try not to say really bad words and stuff, but the content is more for grown ups, not for kids.

Local book clubs can meet at The Book Box, Lee said, and she encourages people to start clubs at the store.

Lee said she is not looking to compete with corporate giants like Barnes and Noble and Half Priced Books, but she wants her store to be a unique nucleus for the Pflugerville community. For someone without business experience, Johnson said Lee started her store with one of the secrets to success.

“A lot of it is desire, especially in a small business like that,” Johnson said. “We worked with her in regards to understanding the business role, the business model, we certainly assisted her in developing a business plan to put it all together, and that was integral in helping her understand what all would be required.”

Lee said she’s grateful to have Johnson and the Small Business Development Center’s free services to guide her toward her goals. As for owning a business after years of house mothering, Lee said she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I thought ‘Yeah, its time to get a job,’ but I’m probably not a very good employee,” she said. “I like to be the boss.”