VOLUMES
FLORIDA CLASSICS BOOKSELLER
REMAINS ALL IN THE FAMILY
Julie Alexander took over Florida Classics Library in Hobe Sound from her uncle Val Martin last year. The company specializes in books related to Florida
and the Treasure Coast. Martin focused mostly on bulk sales through the mail while Alexander has repositioned Florida Classics Library more as a retail
business and expanded the offerings.
98
Founder’s niece takes over store,
rolls out new business plan
BY JANIE GOULD
Florida Classics Library, a bookstore and publishing
house in Hobe Sound, has gotten dressed up for the
new decade, with tropical colors and a mural brightening
the exterior, new gardens and walkways on the
grounds along Southeast Dixie Highway, and inside, carefully
arranged displays of books, gifts, maps and other items
prized by fans of Florida history.
The boarded-up windows that gave an eerie nobody’s-athome
look to the exterior have been replaced by plate glass
windows. New French doors also let in natural light that
makes the retail space shine.
Veteran bookseller Val Martin opened the business after
selling his downtown Stuart store, Valentine’s Bookstore, in
GREGORY ENNS PHOTOS
1979. He operated Florida Classics Library by himself until
last year, when his niece, Julie Alexander, agreed to join him
in the business when she retired from the upscale retailer
Neiman Marcus last spring. She grew up in Coral Gables, just
two hours from Stuart by car.
“I was always interested in Florida history,” she said. “As
kids I remember our parents taking us to Val’s store in Stuart.
He always allowed us to get a book. Then, about 10 years
ago, I really became interested. I stopped by to see him and
we started having a conversation about what was going to
happen to the business. He said he never went on the computer,
so I helped him create a website. To do that, I started
reading every single book that he had.” >>