Denton Bookstore Patchouli Joe’s Is Closing

For nearly five years, bookshop Patchouli Joe’s has been the keeper of a certain kind of magic in Denton — a “silly little store” that has become a sanctuary for the curious, the literary and the bold. It quickly became one of the best independent book sellers in North Texas.

Now, instead of announcing the latest bestsellers to kick off the new year, the family behind the counter — Diane Mayes (co-founder), Joe Mayes (co-founder), Charlie Forester (manager) and Stephanie Forester (social director) — wrote in an email Friday that they would be closing this chapter in March.

“This news is bittersweet because it marks a time of transition for the family,” the subscriber newsletter read, outlining a future when Diane and Joe step back for a slower pace (well, aside from Joe’s run for the Texas House). “But while the sweet lifts our spirits, the bitter is almost too much to bear.”

The reasons for the closure are a familiar, aching refrain for anyone watching the landscape of independent retail. In the email announcement, the Patchouli Joe’s team noted the economy has tightened its grip, making books feel like luxury items for hesitant customers. Costs have risen, sales have dipped and neighborhood changes, including the loss of convenient parking, have built invisible walls between the store and its patrons.

“There are myriad reasons why continuing has become more than the store can support,” the owners wrote. Yet, the financial ledger tells only half the story. The true cost, they confessed, is emotional. “The real reason for the bitter is not getting to see you, our beloved customers.”

For families, Patchouli Joe’s departure leaves a gap that’s hard to ignore. Denton will lose more than a beloved independent bookstore; it’s the city’s best children’s book haven, a vibrant, fenced-in corner alive with forward-facing titles, puppets, plush cushions and the sort of cozy artistry that invites even shy readers to step inside its little world. No other store quite fills this need: The Plot Twist specializes in romance novels, Recycled Books offers a wonderland of used and rare volumes, but not a true children’s nook, and Barnes & Noble sits miles away at Golden Triangle Mall. With Patchouli Joe’s, kids, in particular, had a magical spot for escapism right in the heart of town. It’s hard to say where those moments will happen next.

Since opening its doors, Patchouli Joe’s has hosted over 100 book clubs, 50 open-mic poetry nights, and countless author events. They weathered the “godawful Texas summers” and the frigid winters, shoveling snow and holding on for dear life. They stood tall in the face of literal armed opposition when they hosted a transgender story time requested by a local parent, and they opened their doors to political figures like Beto O’Rourke.

“We’ve spoken up, spoken out and never backed down. We’re proud of that,” the family noted.

The closure announcement also served as a love letter to the “Bookslingin’ Patchouligans” — the staff who transformed retail shifts into family bonds. From the “Singing Bookslinger” Dylan Gonzales to the longest-tenured employee, Taylor Maimone, the email cataloged a roster of people who made the shop hum with life. “All of that goes away when Patchouli Joe’s does. And that breaks our hearts.”

Unless, of course, a plot twist awaits. The family left a sliver of the door ajar, suggesting that perhaps someone with a brilliant idea or a desire to own a bookstore might step in.

“Someone may decide they want to start a bookstore and decide buying Patchouli Joe’s is better than starting from scratch,” they wrote.

But as it stands, the shelves will soon be cleared. Gift cards need redeeming, and final orders need picking up. The tangible remnants of the business will dissolve, but the intangible legacy — the friendships forged, the students given books through the Rotary Club, the collaborations with Denton Mainstreet Association — will linger like the faint scent of patchouli in an old sweater.

For North Texas, the story of Patchouli Joe’s may be ending, but it was a very good tale while it lasted.