Xochis Bookstore and Gallery

Interview with Matt Sokolow of Xochis Bookstore and Gallery

When did you get started in bookselling?

Our Father Stan Sokolow began selling books in the early 1990s. What began as a flea market stand in Santa Fe and Albuquerque became a bookstore with over 35,000 books in over 13 rooms.

What drew you to bookselling?

Our Father studied Archaeology in College at University of New Mexico but towards graduation he realized that an Archaeologist was only paid about $10 an hour so he decided to use his specialized knowledge and passion to create his own business. He was a recovering alcoholic and instead of going to happy hour he would use that energy and $ to shop.

Did you have any mentors in becoming a bookseller?

Our Father met many very knowledgeable booksellers such as John Randall in Albuquerque who would help guide him and advise him about various collections and minutiae of owning and running a bookstore.

What are your specialties as a dealer?

We specialize in mostly South West books including Archaeology, Native American studies, various states such as New Mexico, Colorado, California, Oklahoma. Many art books. Any kind or rare and antiquarian out of print books are our specialty.

What's the most amazing book you've ever sold?

At one time in the 1990s we had to manuscript to Lindbergh's book "The Flight" about being the first pilot to cross the Atlantic Ocean with his signature.

What is your favorite part of being a bookseller?

It's a tie between the wonderful people you meet and the unique tomes full of knowledge that those wonderful people seek out.

Do you have an open storefront or have you in the past?

Yes we are right in the middle of down town and have been a fixture of it for over 30 years now.

If so, do/did you have any bookstore pets?

No but we do possibly have a ghost or two.

What is your favorite bookshop (other than your own)?

COAS Bookstore in Las Cruces, New Mexico has been an invaluable ally and liaison in our business.

What do you personally like to read? Collect?

Our Father was very into ecology and the hippy movement so his favorite book was The Monkey Wrench Gang and we have an entire cabinet he called "The Near Dead Case" where we have many books by Albert Hoffman and Hunter S. Thompson and people like that.

What's your favorite book you personally own? Would you sell it, if the price were right?

He had an unboxed completely new Monkey Wrench Gang that I'm not sure he would part with but he was a haggler so maybe someone could have pried it away from him.

What one book would you buy if price were no object?

Our Father was a very business oriented man so the price would have always been of consideration no matter how great the book.