Popular downtown bookstore open with new owner

Surrounded by the likes of Stephen King, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Agatha Christie, Nancy Smith feels right at home.

The new owner of Second Time Around Used Books in downtown Merced has been with books all her life, and she's looking forward to carrying on the tradition that the previous owner built.

Jim Barnett, who died in August, ran the little bookstore for 13 years with his wife, Jean. After 25 years as a public defender, Jim opened the store that he had always dreamed of.

"After he died, it just wasn't the same without him," Jean said. "And Nancy was ready to step up and buy it."

Smith said she has always loved books, and when she bought the Barnetts' store, she also inherited their knowledgeable employees, Susan Dwyer and Brian Bermingham.

The bookstore got its start more than 20 years ago, on Main Street, but in a location closer to G Street. Then it was housed across the street from its present location before landing where it is now.

Smith was a longtime customer of the Barnetts, and decided she would like to run the bookstore in her retirement. She is still working at her original job with the state, though, while running the book-filled store.

"I've lived in Merced for 20 years, and it seemed like a good opportunity to buy the store," Smith said.

A lot of people who visited the bookstore over the years were afraid that it would close after the unexpected death of Jim Barnett.

"I want to keep it pretty much the same way that it's been," Smith said. "The product mix that Jim had has worked well for a long time."

The bookstore has done well in the present economy, Smith said. "A used bookstore is pretty much immune to a bad economy," she said.

Jean Barnett was glad to see Smith buy the store, and she still helps Smith with the inventory.

Dwyer, who has worked for the store for many years and has also worked as a librarian, knows the inventory inside and out. She knows what's for sale, and she knows what sells well.

"The most popular books are romances and mysteries," Dwyer said.

But the bookstore is more than that. From an extensive California history section to a large selection of children's books, the store offers reading for almost everyone.

And more and more people are discovering the shop.

"We have a grandmother who brings her eight grandkids in every week to pick out a book," Smith said. "And the UC Merced students are also in here a lot."

People can trade books in for credit, Smith said, and the store also takes donations.

"We in turn donate some of our books to the library's bookstore and to the Merced College archeology club," Dwyer said.

Smith said she is glad to see that more and more young adults are coming in to buy books.

"There was a time when kids weren't reading at all," she said. "It's nice to see that change."

With more than 60,000 books in the main part of the store and in boxes and bags in the back rooms, Smith is sure she has enough books for everyone.

"In the summer we have people from all over the world come in here," Smith said. "Downtown is where people end up."

Jean Barnett is glad that her husband's store is going to stay open.

"It would make Jim very happy to know his dream is going on," she said.

Reporter Carol Reiter can be reached at (209) 385-2486 or creiter@mercedsun-star.com