In August of 2018, Uriel’s Unusual Bookstore opened its doors on Commercial Street in Springfield. Housing an impressive collection of new releases, classics, collector’s editions, and non-traditional books like graphic novels, Uriel’s has picked up momentum quickly. The Mirror sat down with Nicholas Hale, the owner of C-Street’s newest bookstore, to talk about his love affair with reading, his vision for a bookstore of his own and the future of Uriel’s.

Fostering creativity

Until Uriel’s, Hale had worked odd jobs to make ends meet, including selling fireworks, teaching, and working for a time with the Forest Service.

“It was sometime at the beginning of 2018, January or February, that I decided to put down roots,” said Hale. “I sat down and thought about what I wanted to do. Books… were at the top of the list.”

Hale was determined to open a place that “fosters creativity,” and was attracted to C-Street’s recent boom in new businesses.

“The whole area is really creative, really picking up momentum, and there isn’t really a place like [Uriel’s] in the area,” Hale said. “It really took off. We made it through our first holiday season and are coming up on our six-month anniversary really soon.”

The power of reading

Hale has always loved books and reading. “Some of my earliest memories are reading with my parents,” he reminisced. “Jumping into a new adventure every night… made me fall in love with reading books.”

“I was always the kid who finished their homework early and got caught reading under the desk,” he continued, laughing. “My favorites were the old ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ books. There’s such a great relationship you can have with a book.”

Nicholas Hale, photo via Forest Swisher.

Just getting started

Hale has many hopes and visions for the future.

“I feel like we’re just getting started,” said Hale.

By summer of 2019, Hale hopes to open the space next door to the bookshop as a coffee/tea bar and lounge space. “It’ll just be a place for people to chill and read what they found at the shop. We’ll also have events like music nights and readings for local talent,” he said.

There has already been a film night at Uriel’s, and Hale teases that there are more to come. In addition, Hale revealed that there is a possible book club in the works. “There’s just so much going on, with the new space and the book club and the events we have scheduled… I don’t want to give too much away,” he said.

Uriel’s has also already participated in Springfield’s monthly First Friday Art Walk, and will again on Feb. 1. “We had a few artists come in and show their stuff. I want to try and bring in quite a few artists, just bring some diversity to what we show.”

Also on Feb. 1, Uriel’s will host guitar and banjo musicians Bridger Faulkenstien and Addison James. They will perform at 7 p.m., followed by a poetry reading at 8:30 p.m.

Uriel’s is located just a few blocks from Drury, at 2941, 301 E Commercial St, Springfield, Mo. Their hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. They are closed on Mondays. You can follow their Facebook page, Uriel’s Unusual Bookstore.

Article by Forest Swisher.