In the Barnes and Noble cookie-cutter siege on our fair Oklahoma City and its independent bookstores—R.I.P. Bollinger Books, you won’t be forgotten—in the end, Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway at 50 Penn Place, outlasted them all and continues to be a timely force in the literary community.
And while books were primarily their thing, it was their cultural programs that got a teenaged Louis Fowler into the bookstore—and into their film discussion groups with erstwhile critic John Pickard—that helped me, for better or worse, become the man I am.
Well, at least one of them.
But perhaps it was the time I met cult icon Bruce Campbell there. Not only was I the first person in line to meet the Evil Dead actor, but I had my copy of If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor signed—a memento I still cherish.
Since that time, though, I seem to have completely forgotten about Full Circle, its inventory, and all the literary wonders it once held. What happened?
Thinking about this, after 25 years away from Full Circle, I decided to come back and, with my wife in tow looking for gifts for her niece, take the afternoon to re-immerse myself in the place.
From the very start—right inside the doors of Full Circle—you’re hit with that old, musty, literary scent that only well-read bookstores possess. It’s the kind of smell you wish they could bottle and sell in the fancy gift shops next to the 50 Penn Place haberdashers.
With the complete scores of books—real, honest-to-goodness books—leading anew to better worlds of esoteric knowledge, the rain came down outside, while inside, the fireplaces were going full-steam. With my stack of possible purchases, I sat in a repurposed theater chair, thumbing through a biography of Yoko Ono.
And while it felt like a homecoming for me, for my wife, it was a Biblical revelation. As we browsed the section highlighting Oklahoma authors, the selection of children’s books stood out—spectacular in scope, covering all subjects and topics.
She found the Easter book that she wanted for her niece and met me at the Garden Café.
While I had never been, Full Circle’s full-service Garden Café was calling to me. Surrounded by books, a small cluster of tables made up the cozy dining area. As the register rang up the full-on lunch crowd, I found myself overdosing on their stable of coffee-based drinks.
Eventually, I landed on a Chai Charger ($5.75)—an espresso drink that pumped my heart full of caffeine and wonder. I paired it with a homemade Cinnamon Palmier ($3.50), or Elephant Ear—a new-to-me treat made from puff pastry, dusted in cinnamon and sugar.
The cookie only whet my appetite. After browsing the menu, we sat down for a proper afternoon lunch.
For my wife, she had the Garden Café Special ($11.50), which was a three-cheese melt on wheat. Featuring mozzarella, Swiss, goat cheese and strawberry compote, it was completed with a bowl of tomato basil soup.
But, for my lunch, I had the quintessential bookstore meal, the Quiche of the Day ($10.00). Today, the quiche was ham and, with a bowl of fresh fruit it was a filling lunch that both of us gave the big “thumbs up.”
After lunch, I once more walked through the place, looking to see it there was anything I missed…of course there was!
Near the entrance, I noticed even more Oklahoma-centric books. After perusing their vaunted selections, I picked up a copy of Tahlequah writer Rebecca Nable’s latest tome, By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land.
Satisfied, I walked up to the counter and paid for my purchases. My wife followed, picking up her own books—along with a kicky tote bag.
As we stepped out into the drizzling sky, she said Full Circle is the Oklahoma bookstore we’d been waiting for, and that she “sincerely” hopes we come back.
“I think we can arrange that,” I replied.-
Follow Louis Fowler on Instagram at @louisfowler78.
