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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
When Gustav Weller opened his small bookstore in 1929, he probably had no idea he would leave such a legacy behind. The bookstore was passed down to Gustav's son, Sam, who worked with his wife, Lila, to pull the store out of debt. Together they improved the bookstore and established a reputation for carrying a broad range of books. Sam and Lila ran the bookstore for 51 years before passing it on to their son, Tony, whose name was appropriately taken from the Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens.
Since taking over the bookstore in 1997, Tony has made a few changes of his own. First, he integrated the new and used books into common sections, making browsing more convenient for customers. He then created an online database of books, added a Spanish language division and reorganized the staff. He hired a store manager to take care of the business affairs because Tony wanted to double his focus on what he enjoys most — the rare book trade.
Tony also enjoys working with his customers and co-workers. He tells me that people who read a lot tend to be grand thinkers. They are fun to talk to and usually have some unique and interesting ideas. He considers it an honor to meet and work with such brilliant minds.
Located in downtown Salt Lake, Sam Weller Bookstore is one of the largest around. Its 40,000 square feet of store allows for the storage and display of a massive selection of books. The staff is also one-of-a-kind. Among the 38 employees, each person averages eight years of experience in the industry. The staff is known for going to great lengths to locate the books for which customers are looking.
With 75 years of business under its belt, Sam Weller Zion Bookstore is the long-time preferred refuge of bookworms and casual readers, alike.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
