Don and Shannon Cannon
Speakeasy Bookstore
- How did you get into the bookstore business?
Shannon and her family ran their bookstore, Bell, Book, and Candle, for 10 years previously in McDonough. After we got married, we decided we wanted to live in Hampton and built our own little bookstore here. - What is the history behind the store’s name?
The building previously held the Prohibition era speakeasy underneath the building. This was the illegal bar that was one of thousands, or tens of thousands in America. It was owned by one of the city council members, L.M. Pierce, and was a bar upstairs where the bookstore is now beforehand. - Aside from its past as a speakeasy, what other types of businesses have been located in your building?
We know Mrs. Burdeshaw had her linen business there starting in 1963. She did a thriving business, getting new linen brought on the train and arriving in Atlanta three times a week. After that, she gave the building to her daughter where she ran a secretarial and accounting business. Before us, there was a roofing inspection service for quite a while, and then we’ve been here for six years.The building previously held the Prohibition era speakeasy underneath the building.
- When you decided to open a bookstore, did you have a specific look and/or feel in mind?
When you walk in our bookstore, you will see exactly what our vision was. We wanted to keep the historical integrity of the building and the downtown area, and we wanted to make people feel at home. We want people to relax and stay as long as they want and talk and drink coffee.
- What was the renovation process like and what custom touches are you most proud of?
We worked through three hot months of the summer with no electricity, so no lights or air conditioning, to do demolition and then build the bookstore as it is. We tore down renovations done during questionable times, such as putting in a drop eight foot ceiling below a beautiful tin 12 foot ceiling, and carpet over the original hardwood floor. We took some of the reclaimed wood and built our bar and counters. - What types of books do you sell and where do you find them?
We are a used bookstore, but we have a good customer base and try to keep their needs fulfilled. We cater mostly to popular fiction, but we have other genres, as we can squeeze them in. We have a lot of donations. Readers also take advantage of our trade in policy to get more books at a reduced price.When you walk in our bookstore, you will see exactly what our vision was. We wanted to keep the historical integrity of the building and the downtown area, and we wanted to make people feel at home. We want people to relax and stay as long as they want and talk and drink coffee.
- In addition to books, you sell coffee. Tell us more about your coffee.
Our coffee was meant to be just a perk of the bookstore, but we have an avid customer base that rivals the book sales now. We have a handmade La Marzocco espresso machine and make all of the espresso drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, and cold drinks. We get our coffee from Love Nomads, a small batch roaster in Fayetteville that roasts excellent fair trade coffee.
- Describe your roles within the business and what aspects of running a bookstore do you enjoy most?
This is Shannon’s store. When she left her family bookstore, we sold books online for two years, very successfully I might add, but she missed the interaction with the bookstore crowd. We like being a part of Hampton. We have moved most of our family here now and have made some great friends, both in and out of the bookstore. - Aside from the public bookstore portion of the building, are there other areas? If so, what are they used for or what are your dreams for them?
We have a back area that we would like to use for book signings and cultural events. We are working on it now and hope to have it open soon.
- We understand you had a brush with a few zombies during filming for Season 6 of The Walking Dead. What can you tell us about that experience and the residual effects of the production have you seen?
We had a great time, although very tiring, when the Walking Dead filmed here in Hampton. We were at the bookstore every day for seven days from 4:30AM to 10PM serving coffee to the crew and cast and interacting with them. They were wonderful to us and we would love it if they came back. We do a tour every Saturday where we take people that have traveled from all over the world to the locations that were filmed here. We do this mainly to show fans how our experience was with the filming and the cast and crew. - If you own a bookstore, the assumption is you love to read. Who are a few of your favorite authors?
We have so many favorite authors. Some of Don’s are Hunter S. Thompson, Tolkien, Stephen King, Clive Barker. Shannon loves James Rollins, Steve Berry, and Anne Rice, among many others.