Cherry BooksHome to Louisiana’s authors… and great shoes

Any store can carry a book, but very few carry a sense of community, history and pride like Cherry Books on Canal Boulevard in Thibodaux. Although they focus on books, you’ll also find work from local artists and craftsmen, children’s toys and shoes that aren’t for sale.

“This building used to be a shoe store and cobbler shop owned by Sam Cherry,” explains owner Woody Falgoust. “Every now and then, I’ll pull a pair down and wear them.”

Cherry Books also pays homage to the area by specializing in local books. Whether it’s by a local author, about the area or historical society volumes about the region’s past, Falgoust and the store’s manager Phyllis Lear have a zeal for local books that borders on eccentricity.

“Not only does every book tell a story; every shelf tells a story; every corner tells a story. This is where stories come to life,” said Falgoust. “That’s what we wanted to bring to this community.”

Rather than mixing local books in with their genre, Cherry Books has a dedicated room that ranges from wetlands narratives to Cajun children’s books to Louisiana-specific retirement plans. Even self-published local authors have found a home at the store.

“If you’re local, we’re going to have your book on our shelves. Sometimes they don’t sell, but often they do,” said Falgout.

Local authors have repaid the store’s passion for Louisiana’s book culture by regularly coming to the store for book signing events.

“This store is just filled with so many unexpected treasures,” said Falgoust, pointing to a biography of Carl Lewis signed not only by the book’s local author, but Lewis himself.

Cherry Books is also a haven for area bookworms. If the store were a bar, it would be the kind of place where the bartender has your drink made by the time you get to your stool.

“Regulars will call with a list of orders, and we’ll find those books for them. We also keep track of particular authors that our regulars like,” said Lear, the store’s manager.

The store also keeps a list of books that each customer buys, so they’ll know what authors to order and even what to recommend for friends of regulars looking for gifts.

With tot-sized shopping carts, loads of toys and storytelling events with children’s authors, parents are free to bring in their youngsters and let them play while they peruse the shelves, said Lear.

Falgoust’s wife, Susie, a teacher with a degree in developmental psychology, played a major role in creating the store’s children’s section.

“It’s all about entertainment, education and growth,” said Falgoust. “We get little boys that are athletes, and you’d think they might have trouble, but their eyes just light up.”

“My kids look forward to coming here all the time,” said customer Jenny LaFont, who estimated she buys four books a month from Cherry Books. “It’s kind of like my second home.”

Falgoust and his staff also give a hand local schools by helping them order books in bulk, carrying required reading and giving teachers and students a discount on school-related purchases.

“Some people think, ‘Why does the school system need a local bookstore?’ But they have a constant need for us,” said Falgoust.

The pride evident at Cherry Books paid off when they were named the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year last week. In the future, the store plans to expand into hard-to-find books and community events. The store already holds regular author signings, which it hopes to increase in the future.

Falgoust, who is also a well-known local attorney, said that books have also helped him deal with some of the downside of the region he loves so much. He wrote the store’s unofficial motto when Hurricane Gustav retaught him the value of a book. A printed version now hangs at the front of the store.

It reads, “A book runs without electricity, needs no batteries, comes pre-assembled, makes a great decoration, provides hours of entertainment, increases intelligence, can be reread and resold and offers more bang for the buck than any good other than water.”

Owners Woody and Susie Falgoust (standing) pose with local artist George Rodrigue (lower) at a book signing event at Cherry Books. * Photo courtesy of CHERRY BOOKS