LOCAL BUSINESSES
San Marcos lost its only exclusively used book store when Half Price Books closed down in 2022. 2nd Chance Books has filled that void and is bringing new life to old books. Located at 102 Wonder World Drive nestled between a coffee shop and a cafe, is a book lover’s dream. Inside the store are endless aisles of books sure to please anyone’s taste, from fiction to graphic novels and everything in between. The store is constantly getting in new used books, so it’s quickly becoming a weekly spot for those on the hunt for their next read.
“Treasure hunting for books is a big part of the business, you’ve got to find the right books,” 2nd Chance Books Owner Daniel Mull said. His job is not only to run the store but to source the books that grace its shelves. He even built the software that helps catalog and categorize each book making the in store experience organized and accessible.
“My number one goal is the freshness of the selection and to get a really robust back end operation,” Mull said. The business of books is what fuels his passion as he’s always looking for new solutions and improvements. Mull started in the used books business in 2008 and has since built businesses in towns as far as Lubbock. He is working on a new concept in Geronimo called Jefferson Books which will take all unsold inventory and offer it at a per pound price, essentially giving consumers a third chance to purchase used books. The 2nd chance model not only gives readers a chance to buy a book at a discounted price, but it saves the book from entering a landfill.
For 2nd Chance Books Mull keeps a high standard hoping to offer the best of the best, and his approach is to constantly evolve the business.
“The customer’s preference is going to be paramount, and we're going to try and obsess over what they want and provide it for them,” Mull said.
Mull is an avid reader himself, so he truly is living and breathing his craft. Reading has been a big part of his life since childhood; he sought out books to gain knowledge that was not accessible to him.
“I kind of had a late start, I would say, with a lot of things, so I think maybe that’s why I liked reading so much. It actually helped me catch up,” Mull said. He grew up in Seguin and spent time in San Marcos, eventually going to college in Lubbock. Mull left school to pursue his book business, eventually making his way back to education in his 30s.
“I’m just addicted to learning,” Mull said. His passion also lies in business and making the store the best it can be.
“As long as you're doing what you love – and you're pacing yourself and you're just being yourself as much as possible – it doesn't feel as much like work. Obviously that's pretty cliche in many ways, but it's true.” Mull said.
2nd Chance Books is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday located at 102 Wonder World Drive.
Daily Record Photos by Rebekah Porter
