The Bellelise Booksellers, located on West Bolling St., not only buys and sells books but soon will offer coffee and pastries.

   Opened on Aug. 1, 2006 the store was formerly owned and operated by Emma Brown under the name The Bookshelf. Now the store is owned and operated by Desiree Thornhill. The stores is named after her Thornhills daughter’s middle names, Belle and Elise.
 

   “If we have a third child we’ll name her booksellers,” Thornhill said.
 

   Bellelise Booksellers sells new and used books of all kinds, textbooks, DVDs and Harry Potter memorabilia. Thornhill said she always wanted a bookstore and when this one came open her husband, Sonny, bought it for her. The store buys text books from any college with or without the CD, or accompanying books. Some bookstores won’t buy back a book if the CD or lab book is lost.

   Thornhill said “If the book is selling somewhere in the world we’ll sell it.”

    The Bellelise Bookstore has an extensive children’s section as well as a local Authors of Arkansas section. Bellelise offers a 10 percent discount for University of Arkansas at Monticello students and military personnel. The bookstore also has a Facebook page on the Internet. Moriah Ellis, resident of Monticello, said she thought the bookstore was a great idea.

   “I think the new bookstore is a real blessing for our town. I had so enjoyed Emma Brown’s wonderful bookstore, and I think she would be proud that the bookstore still remains. There’s a friendly atmosphere inside, and I enjoy the wide variety of books available.” Ellis said.

   The Bellelise bookstore is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, as well as 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.  For more information, call the bookstore at 460-9854.