07/31/2026
The city told us we had to close.
We are committed to reopening, ASAP!
If you want to help, what can you do?
We could use your help in two different ways. We are working to organize another massive book sale. This hopefully will dwarf the sales we have had for the past three years. We could use a number of helpers setting up, running, and taking down for this sale. I haven't Finalized time or venue for this yet, but tentatively it will be early September. This is to raise funds to speed up the necessary repairs to our building. Send me a text (817-349-6366) , or message if you're interested.
Second, if you really want to keep a unique bookstore with a huge collection of books, vinyl records, comic books, DVDs, CDs, cassettes, and VHS open on the courthouse square, then we need more than pats on the back and Facebook likes. We love these, but until we get the doors back open they really don't help much.
So, we would like to offer you a special gift card sale. If you purchase a gift card of $50 or $100 or more between now and the end of August we will increase the value of the card. $50 will buy a $60 gift card. $100 will buy a $125 gift card, and any purchase of a gift card greater than $100 in value will have its value increased 25%.
These are our physical Published Page Bookshop plastic cards. They never expire, and there are no annual charges. We will send them 1st class mail to the address you provide, or we will be happy to provide curbside pickup by scheduled time and date.
These cards can be used in our store when we are allowed to reopen, or for online purchases. To use them for online purchases you will need to call the shop and complete the purchase by phone,
The background:
Our shop is in the second oldest commercial building in Cleburne. It was constructed in 1880, by Barzilai Chambers, one of Cleburne's 2 founders. It was built the same year he was nominated and ran for Vice President of the United States, on the Greenback Party ticket.
When we purchased the building nine years ago it had been vacant for almost twenty years. A front window was boarded up where a car had smashed into the building. We spent more than 4 months making repairs to satisfy the city at that time. But old buildings are like old people. Things go wrong sometimes.
A little more than six months ago, on January 6, 2026 we were visited by several City of Cleburne fire department employees accompanied by a city constable. After a comprehensive inspection I was told they would send me a copy of their report. A few days later I received the report, with an extensive list of needed repairs. I told the city I would work on them. I have done so, though with far less progress than I would like. Connye & I both had medical issues over the past several weeks that slowed us down.
On July 21, this year, I returned to the shop after a medical procedure and found a letter taped to the front door. It was from the fire marshal, and stated that based on their inspection of six months prior I was ordered to immediately close the store until all repairs had been made, a new inspection passed, and the receipt of a letter from the fire marshal giving permission to reopen.
We spend thousands each a month on mortgage,insurance, taxes, and utilities whether we open our doors or not. We are working to make all required repairs. Many of these repairs are needed because of damages caused when our neighbor's contractor demolished their building. After two years of promising to get with us about the repairs, that neighbor will no longer answer or return phone calls or messages.
I have recovered from my recent medical issues. Connye is still recovering.
We plan to stay “On the Square” in Historic Downtown Cleburne,and to continue building Texas' finest “Old School Bookstore. At the moment I cannot provide a date for reopening. I do commit to it being as quickly as possible. I truly miss having you visiting in the shop.
We appreciate your business and your friendship.
Jim & Connye
