Once Read

About

In the early 1970's Mark Hustad observed the growing popularity of used book stores in the country. The price of new paperbacks was rising and people were showing more interest in purchasing used books. Mark travelled to numerous towns searching for the right location for a used book store. An early preference had been to locate somewhere in Indiana but he finally decided to start his Once Read Bookstore in Mankato, Minnesota. His complete stock at the time the business opened in 1975 was around 200 books and has since grown into the thousands.

After operating the business a year he was offered the opportunity of buying the building, an opportunity he immediately seized. Since then, Mark has been the sole proprietor of the business. A business which he believes has lasted longer than any of the previous tenants and the first business at this location where the manager of the store has also been the owner of the building.