About Us
L & M Bookstore is a local bookstore serving the students, faculty and staff of San Antonio College, St. Philips College, Palo Also College, Northwest Vista College, Northeast Lakeview College, UTSA's Downtown campus, and Texas A&M Kingsville at PAC. Our primary goal is to ensure students are able to obtain the course materials they need at reasonable prices. We also provide many other items to support your academic career and school spirit. Please browse our website or stop by our store anytime!
Pat Puig, Manager, L & M Bookstore
1716 N. Main Ave • Directions
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 222-1323
mailorders@lm-bookstore.com
REGULAR HOURS
Monday ~ Thursday 8:00 am to 7:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am to 5:30 pm
Saturday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Sunday CLOSED
We will be open EXTENDED hours from August 13th through September 4th for
the Fall Back To School. Please click here
for these hours.
L&M History—Over 35 Years of Service
For over 35 years now, L&M Bookstore has served as the primary academic resource for San Antonio's college community, and now there are two store locations as we enter the new century with a new website designed to assist students achieve their educational goals better and faster than ever. It is a far different world than when L&M Bookstore started back in 1970.
FROM BRICKS TO BOOKS
Harris Smithson, current owner of both L&M Bookstore and L&M Bookstore on N. Main, joined forces with his half-brother Floyd Lemox and Floyd's wife Jean Mulkey to help manage the bookstore venture they created in 1970. The new college bookstore adopted the name of L&M Bookstore, taking the initials from the surnames of Floyd and Jean (Lemox & Mulkey). Smithson took over the company in 1972 and began setting his sights higher, with L&M Bookstore opening just three years after the emergence of the city's newest institution, the University of Texas at San Antonio.
At its original location at 1824 N. Main, L&M Bookstore was within the realm of the College Book Company of San Antonio, which included the Twig, Booksmith's, and the Red Balloon. In April 1976, the store moved to its current location of 1716 N. Main, right across the street from San Antonio College and carried textbooks for all three of the colleges within the Alamo Community College District (San Antonio College, St. Philip's College, and Palo Alto College). By carrying textbooks for students attending both the ACCD colleges and UTSA, the bookstore's success grew by leaps and bounds, prompting Smithson to focus on expansion.
LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE
Recognizing the potential growth of the student population at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Smithson decided to open a second L&M Bookstore to service UTSAtm students. The store first opened its doors in August 1991 at its current location of 15503 Babcock and Loop 1604, right across from UTSA™. With a strategic position, strong word of mouth, and top-level customer service, the fledgling store's reputation grew as strong and steady as its sales. The success of the two stores soon caught the interest of the nation's top textbook wholesaler, Nebraska Book Company, who entered into a lease agreement with Smithson to operate both stores in March 1997. With the backing of Nebraska Book Company, Inc., L&M was able to provide students with a larger selection of used textbooks at lower prices, as well as new college products previously unavailable.
And as the university began expanding its physical plant, so too did L&M Bookstore. In the summer of 1998, L&M-Bookstore doubled in size when the store expanded into an adjacent suite. L&M Bookstore now services the students of both UTSA™ and Northwest Vista College, the newest school in the Alamo Community College District.
L&M Bookstore has adhered closely to its mission of providing goods and services at the lowest possible prices consistent with sound business policy. Its diverse selection of books, collegiate clothing and supplies reflects the wide variety of backgrounds and interests that make the University of Texas at San Antonio a world-class educational institution.