Virginia store is place for taste of LDS culture
Deseret News 2Oct99 B4
By Lee Davidson: Deseret News Washington correspondent

LEESBURG, VIRGINIA -- Tucked away in the quiet Civil War-era town of Leesburg, Virginia, is a thriving Mormon owned business called Timpanogos Books. Owner Craig Everett explains about his store that is 35 miles from Washington, D.C. "I wanted a name that wouldn't mean anything to someone just walking down the street but would be instantly recognized by anyone who has been to the Y (Brigham Young University) or sent children to the Y., who are most of our customers."

Timpanogos Books is a a 500 square-foot art gallery where local LDS painters and sculptors can display their work. The Zion East Foundation for the Arts leases space for their gallery. The gallery, which is adjacent to the two-year-old book store is open to non-LDS artists.

"I view it as a service project," says Everett. The bookstore fulfills a lifelong dream to own his own store. "I always wanted to own a bookstore," he says. "Having a store with a cafe where authors could read books and entertainers could perform."

"Leesburg itself is about 3 percent LDS, which is high for the East." Six LDS stakes are located within a half-hour of the store. The only other bookstore carrying church materials is 45 miles away.

"Besides books, we have home storage items and emergency supplies," he said. Visitors can pick up a copy of "Mormon Doctrine" on the shelf. "We have clothes too," Everett adds.

Feeling that more effective communication was needed among the LDS members, Everett found the Latter-day Herald. "It was tough as an LDS business to advertise." Now with his own paper, LDS business people have that audience. "I read less now - because I don't have as much time with everything else."