It has been nearly two years since Half Price Books closed its doors in San Marcos, leaving many of its residents with limited options for where they can purchase books locally.

San Marcos local Wade Vetiver said he opened Green Heron Bookshop because there was a need.

“People were really upset when Half Price [Books] closed,” Vetiver said.

Vetiver also owns the neighboring apothecary shop Solidago—Wade Vetiver’s Apothecary & Esoterica.

Green Heron Bookshop sells an assortment of novels in a variety of genres, including poetry, philosophy, dystopian fiction, national bestsellers and nonfiction.


Vetiver noted a majority of the books in his shop are from a community survey that posed the question, “What’s the best book you’ve ever read?” and emphasized he was working to prioritize the community’s requests.

“Over 200 books in the shop are around that [survey], ... and I keep getting new responses every day and I’m ordering those,” Vetiver said.

Aside from novels, the book shop offers San Marcos-based postcards and Texas art. There are also plans for Green Heron Bookshop to host open mic poetry nights. Its first poetry night will be in tandem with the San Marcos Studio Tour on April 6 from 1-3 p.m.