Trystyn Miller
Life Editor
There are many businesses in downtown Pocatello; ranging from bookstores to vintage stores, to coffee shops, and there is no shortage of small locally owned establishments. I was lucky enough to sit down with yet another small business owner: Jacob Hubers. Located at 427 N Main St, White Owl Rare Books is a one-of-a-kind shop in downtown Pocatello. White Owl sells vintage, rare, and antiquarian books. Hubers expanded, “Typically this covers anything that is more expensive, hard to find, or just older. There is a lot of debate on the term vintage, but basically, that is the general idea.” Hubers explained a little more about how the store came to be, “I have been selling books for about five years now. I officially opened downtown in September, but before that, I was located in the old Marshall building. I was operating out of there for about two to three years. I moved to my location on Main back in September.”
When I asked Hubers about how he stumbled into selling these types of books he had this to say, “I have always been interested in books in general, and interested in older books. My interest in older books developed after going to an auction when I was sixteen or seventeen. I got a whole bunch of really old special books for a really good deal and I thought it was cool to have something old and a part of history. So, I have always had an interest, but it got pushed aside while I went to college. I eventually moved here for graduate school and I needed a little something to supplement my income. I started selling books online and it grew from there.” White Owl has a wide range of inventory; selling books such as first editions, fine bindings, natural history, mythology, and religion; there is something for everyone at White Owl.
When he first started the business Hubers was buying his inventory primarily from auctions and local sellers. However, as the business expanded he did a lot more of his business through wholesalers and working directly with different companies, both in the States and in the UK. In addition to selling books in-store, White Owl also has a thriving online business. Hubers explained to me how most of his sales actually happen online, “Everything in my store is cross-listed online for the most part and that is where the majority of my sales happen. The website can be found at whiteowlrarebooks.com.”
Hubers also expressed his support for the other bookstores downtown, mentioning how every store offers something different. It does not feel like you are walking into the same store four times when you visit the bookstores downtown, as they all have something different and unique to offer. Like many of the other owners downtown, Hubers is passionate about what he does, “I think the most fascinating thing about the field is being able to see some real pieces of history. Getting to see stuff from all over the place and different kinds of stuff is fascinating.” Unlike some other rare booksellers, Hubers encourages his customers to handle the books and truly enjoy the experience.
There are currently no events scheduled at White Owl, but Hubers hopes to plan some events for the community this year as he is working with the Glen Allen project. He also explained how willing he is to share his space, “I am always looking for other non-profits and organizations that want to use the space. I am more than willing to host events for them.” So, if you are looking for a rare book, or simply looking for a place to host an event, make sure to check out White Owl Rare Books and speak with Jacob Hubers.