JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The iconic Chamblin Bookmine is celebrating its 50th anniversary. <\/p>\n
The independent bookstore is a Jacksonville staple with two locations and more than 100 rows of books packed from floor to ceiling.<\/p>\n
Owner Ron Chamblin says in 50 years, Chamblin has exploded. <\/p>\n
The first location was on Herschel.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s main location is on Roosevelt Blvd.<\/p>\n
\u201cBack then in \u201976, I would have maybe two or three, four customers a day. And my sales were like $15 a day, $20 a day. (In) maybe nine months, and I finally reached one hundred dollars a day,\u201d said Ron Chamblin.<\/p>\n
Chamblin says for some people in a world of e-books and internet, there is nothing like the real thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re fortunate to have survived what I call the big box stores that moved in the 90s… We survived the internet, so far. We\u2019ll see what AI does to us,\u201d said Chamblin.<\/p>\n
AI will have to compete with Chamblin, who, at 84 years old, still works 6 days a week.<\/p>\n
After decades of success in Duval, he promises more chapters are ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still growing. We\u2019re going to add another building in the back, and we\u2019re adding another building at the warehouse environment. So, it\u2019s been a constant growth and continues to be,\u201d said Chamblin.<\/p>\n
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