Opening in April 1993 Richard Katz’s Mystery One Bookshop has had a 22 ½ year run as an independent mystery bookstore. It’s been an impressive run which has included hundreds of author signings and events. Going over the list of people who have been to the store is like a whos who of the mystery genre with a lot of authors doing signing on their first tours before they became household names. At one point Mystery One had sold more copies of Monkey’s Raincoat by Robert Crais than any other store in the Midwest.
On a personal note it was Richard Katz who really pulled back the curtain and introduced me to the mystery community. There are countless authors he turned me onto. I also got my start on the Mystery One website doing author interviews. Richard would let me tag along to dinner with authors and he asked me to help out at Bouchercon 1999 in Milwaukee which is where I met Ruth. Over the years Mystery One has been a gathering place for mystery fans and I’ve made a lot of friends because of the store. The store is also where I hung out when I quit drinking surrounding myself with books and readers instead of booze and drinkers.
JD Rhoades, Zoe Sharpe with Richard Katz
The decision to close the brick and mortar store did not come lightly but with foot traffic dwindling and more and more of the sales being done over the internet it makes sense to switch the operation to a internet based store. There are plans to still do events, for instance Mystery One will be selling collectable books at Murder and Mayhem in Milwaukee this November. Not having the store will free up time that Richard plans to use book hunting and getting more books listed on line.
At the end of August there will be a send off for the store and Richard is hoping to have events lined up for Thursday and Friday the 27th and 28th and a daylong party on Saturday the 29th. The store has been reaching out to authors to make the send off a big day with great prices on books and a chance for everyone to say good bye to the store and have some fun. Think Irish wake or funeral in New Orleans.
From Richard:
“Now for some different news, Mystery One will be closing at the end of August(or maybe September). We will continue to be an online store. August, 27th, 28th, and 29th (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) we will have a party with all books discounted, so come and get books at fantastic prices. My love goes out to all of you who helped Mystery One have a wonderful 23 year run. Everyone please come in by the end of the month.”
