I only wish I lived close enough to stop in and have a chat with the two owners. The sisters I knew and loved from days in Illinois were super smart and ultra fun. Cheers Gazebo Books! read more

Just visited this place with my friends last week. I was very excited about the selection at first, but as soon as we walked in the lady had a VERY rude and condescending attitude towards everyone. Luckily we didn't have kids with us, but she did talk to my friend who is a fully grown adult, as if he was a child. My friend and I both walk with canes which people react to weirdly, because we're young (college aged). My friend had a backpack on and the shop owner very condescendingly yelled for his attention and told him to be careful not to bump it into things- as if he isn't an adult who knows to be aware of what he's doing. He hadn't bumped into anything or even come close, and was being very careful, and it was pretty obvious that she was singling him out and assuming he was stupid because of being visibly disabled. She also was very rude about the phone policy and I did not see any signs about that or the cash-only policy. Maybe she doesn't want you taking notes about books you want so that you can't remember to buy them somewhere else, but I ended up doing that anyway because I didn't want to give a cent to her. My other friend waited ages to check out because the lady was having a long conversation with someone in front of her in line. And no, she didn't greet anyone or say anything to us other than yelling her rules. read more

I saw a book in the window that interested me. "How to toilet train your cat...." I asked the storekeeper about the book and she led me to it. No smile. No friendly look. I started looking at the book and went to check the reviews on how successful the method is. The storekeeper raced over and told me I couldn't use my cell phone in the store. Fine. I left. read more

Extremely rude! It may be a cool place but it takes more energy to be negative than positive, and in town like Eureka Springs I'm definitely not looking for a shop owner to be so condescending, positive energy is better! read more

In the era of Amazon, you'd think a local independent bookstore would welcome customers. They were rude and snotty while I was on my cell phone learning about a relative's cancer surgery, and I was being completely silent. Ironically, I found the store with ... my cell phone! Some proprietors of indie bookstores are closet misanthropists and neo-Luddites and this appears to be that variety. read more

If I could give a negative star, I would. The owner is the rudest most hostile person I have the misfortune of encountering. She yelled at my child for looking at a book and at my friend for using her phone to look up a book. We left a pile of books we were planning to buy in the counter and she yelled after me that we were "rude people." For trying to buy a book? She says being kind to customers "like you" isn't important because she has been in business for 39 years. Well, good luck! Customer service is important!! Support local businesses but NOT angry, mean, rude shop owners!! read more

Like some of the other reviewers, I too wish I could leave a negative review. I'm all about supporting local businesses, but unlike every other local friendly store owner/employee, the person working here was incredibly rude and hostile. I was with my girlfriend and got out my phone to look up a book review and was told I couldn't have my phone out, that it's not fair to look it up and buy it online, and that "I work hard just like you so I deserve to get paid just like you." We walked out on them as they continued to make assumptions and berate us. The sad part is I really was about to buy that book until she did that. You're better off not even going inside. Supporting any other local business would be better than buying a pack of gum from them. read more

Owner was incredibly rude - got angry at our children who were respectfully looking at book, yelled at me for using my phone to look up information about an author. I normally like to support independent book shops but if visiting Eureka Springs would avoid this store. read more

The shop owner does request that you don't use your cell phone in the store but she was polite about it. She and I started talking about various things such as the history of the town, history in general and women's lib. She's a very interesting, intelligent person who just requests some common courtesy. The shop itself was great, especially if you're looking for something beyond generic romance and mystery novels. I highly recommend this shop. read more

I found this to be a very plain and uninspired bookstore, especially considering all the quirky and unique shops around it in Eureka Springs. I stopped in with a friend, and we were both put off by the extreme, chanting New-Age music that was being played in the store. We were also the only customers. I had taken out my phone and taken a note of a book title that I wanted to remember, when who I can only assume was the proprietor came up to me with a stick-in-her-butt attitude and told me that they "asked people not to use their phones in the store." I told her OK, and my friend and I promptly headed to the door, which was slammed shut after us by the uppity woman. Judging by the lack of any customers although the businesses all around had plenty of traffic that day, no one else wanted to spend more than 5 minutes in that store either. read more

Superb selection of books. It's plain to see the inventory has been conscientiously collected so it's not overrun with teen vampire silliness. We had a great conversation with the store owner who is kin and engaging. This will be on my list of places to stop every time I'm in Eureka! read more

This bookstore is excellent! Incredible selection of non-fiction and great fiction, too. If you abide by the no-cell-phone policy, you shouldn't have trouble. The woman working was so kind and recommended a local coffee/beer place; she even showed my husband and me how to get there. If I'm in Eureka Springs again, I'll definitely stop by. read more

My wife and I have visited this bookstore, and made purchases, every time we have stayed in Eureka Springs, and will continue to do so. It may not be to everyone's taste, but then we wouldn't make the trip to this unique community if we just wanted more of the same. I've read many negative reviews of this shop, and though they are correct that there are specific rules against cell phones, and children are viewed as a concern, and the shop owners come off as gruff, still... Some of us out there still like to shop without having to sidestep someone glued to their phone, oblivious to the fact they are blocking an isle in a small shop. We still appreciate a place where parents are expected to be responsible for their children's behavior, and whereabouts. We are not all put off by a persons outward demeanor, particularly when we consider that person is a wealth of useful knowledge, unencumbered with the need to sell themselves along with the product. Perhaps it would be more engaging to put aside the cell phone and ask the shopkeeper for information on a book, and listen for what you need to know, instead of for what you want to hear. Hold your child by the hand and show them through example how to respect the space and things of others. Perhaps we should remember that though we like to think that "the customer is always right", we are not always correct, and that we are sometimes being offered a service, not a convenience. Yes, we'll be back to this shop again. read more

I feel somewhat vidicated having read that other travelers have experienced the same disrespect and flat out rudeness by the owners of this store as we did . . . from the moment we walked into their store - which features a large children's book section in the very front - the two women owners were horrible to my kids - snarky, snappy, demanding, judgmental, and made me and the children (who were truly on their best behavior) feel unwelcome and hated. They clearly do not want kids in their shop - and maybe not adults, either. When I said, "lets give this lady some money for your book so we can leave and stop making them feel so uncomfortable," all hell broke loose from the two of them - yelling at me for being rude and obnoxious, telling me to never ever come back in their store again. After a couple of minutes of their ridicule, the woman actually grabbed my shoulders and tried to push me out the door while calling me "an obnoxious bitch." In front of 4 kids under the age of 10!! They are pure evil and I can not believe this store has been open for as long as it has. I assume they have rent control, or some kind of deal with the devil, to have not been shut down long ago. Do NOT waste your money on such undeserving shop owners. read more

I'm all about supporting local businesses, but not when they treat their customers so rudely. I went to this shop with a couple of colleagues of mine during Diversity Weekend. We had been in the store browsing for roughly 15 minutes, and the entire time the woman behind the counter had been ranting about politics to a visibly uncomfortable customer. We were on a tight schedule, so I pulled out my phone to check the time and the woman literally screamed at me in front my friends and the other customers in the store. She told me that cell phones were strictly forbidden, told me there was a sign on the door, and questioned my ability to read and my intelligence. I sat down what books I had gathered to purchase, told her that I guessed I'd be buying them on Amazon, and left along with all of the other customers in the store. I've never left such an awful review of a business, and I hope I never have to again. Avoid this store like the plague. read more

I want to love this book store. I really really do. But..... before you even walk in, you are accosted by the "store rules" posted all over the door. I'm fairly sure the woman behind the counter hasn't smiled in years. As you come in, she all but barks at you that there are no cell phones allowed and no picture taking. Picture taking? Anyway, with absolutely no offer of assistance or inquiry as to our interests we started to peruse the books. I found several and loaded up with my selections. I laid them on the counter and was promptly informed (once again almost barked at) that credit and debit cards are not accepted. Of all the rules posted on her front door, seems like that should be one. It would have been nice to know before she watched us load up with books. This could be an awesome shop if probably anyone else worked the counter. I fully support "Shop local" but this lady sent me straight to Amazon where I found every book I was going to purchase in that store. I get the rules. I even get why and fully support the reason for most of them. But her treatment and hateful attitude towards her customers just plain kills any desire to continue to business there. read more

Do not shop here! I did not use my cell phone, but if my husband or child had called me, I would have stepped outside to take the call and then kept going down the street. While perusing the shelves, I listened to the shopkeeper and another customer loudly proclaim the prodigious aspects of Mac computers. But the rules are to be quiet. My daughter found a single book she thought would be entertaining as a late night, waiting-to-fall-asleep book. When she went to pay, she was frankly and without a sense of friendliness or remorse told she could only use cash or check. She paid cash. However, when I got to the counter, I said I didn't know if I had enough cash for the 5 books I had selected. The shopkeeper asked if I wanted the books added up to see how much I would owe. While she added up the cost, I noted I rarely travel with cash anymore, and, in fact, I had less than $100 with me. The shopkeeper then went into a long tirade about how allowing customers to use charge/debit cards cost her so much money, and her customers just go to the ATM down the street to get cash. I noted that if I did that I would be charged for withdrawing money from an ATM not associated with my bank. Her response was that someone had to pay and it wasn't going to be her. I should have walked out then. Instead I put all the cash I had minus a few $1's on the counter. The total purchase came to $70 something and 1 cent. The shopkeeper asked if I had a penny or would I like a bunch of change back. My daughter came to my rescue and gave me the penny. I have to add here that when I make purchases with cash at, say a convenience store, I always put the pennies received back in the penny bowl for the next customer who needs it. This shopkeeper didn't have a penny bowl. I suspect because she would empty it herself and keep the donated pennies. She then began rattling on about Fred Astaire, the dancer. Wait, what??!! This place is the only bookstore in the downtown area that we found, and it's just an OK store. I've been in much better small boutique-like bookstores in other tourist places with 100% friendlier staff. But if you are desperate for something to read, be sure to have cash, keep your cell phone off and hidden, leave any containers of liquid outside or at the counter, confine your children, and be prepared to be accosted with the worst customer service you can imagine. read more

I love supporting small, independent bookstores when visiting a new place. I did not see the sign on the door and decided to pull out my phone to check the weather while waiting on my companion to finish browsing. As soon as I pulled out my phone the owner yelled at me. Literally. I respect an establishments right to ban cell phone inside their store. All she had to do was ask me politely to put up my phone and it would have been fine. If you are a small business, especially a bookstore, you can not afford to disrespect customers like this women does. Needless to say I put all the books I had been planning to buy back and got out of there as quickly as possible. read more

The woman who runs this business is wretched. The store is fetching but the storeowner randomly started ranting at my daughter and accusing her of running while she was standing next to me. I addressed the woman calmly and directly, stating that if she had a problem with my daughter she needed to speak with me. She immediately became apoplectic, screaming that we needed to leave her store, I let her know that was fine with me which seemed to enrage her all the more. I thought the authorities would have to be called. I honestly do not believe this woman is in her right mind. She appears to have serious mental health issues. I don't think she was in control of herself during our visit. If she were medicated she probably would not be like that. read more

The first time I went into the bookstore I was shopping when a person came up to the counter and the owner rudely chastised him for trying to pay with a check. I should have taken that as a warning. I love bookstores and there was a small but interesting selection, I bought some postcards and had no problems. On our second visit to the store I got out my notepad and pen to write down the name of a book I was going to look up later. The owner came up to me and said that was not allowed. I laughed thinking she was joking with me! She stormed off into the back room and that is when I realized she was serious. Wow. Really? She came back out and glared at me, making me feel very unwelcome so I left. As I was leaving she started saying something very rude but I slammed the door before she could finish. OK... that upset me so much it took me a day to get over it. I still think about it and cringe. I love bookstores and I thought this one was cute but I will never go back. If you want to avoid the negativity of this woman I would strongly suggest not going to this bookstore. I hope that she finds the help she needs to work through her anger so she will not take it out on her customers. read more