People love an underdog, and Cottonwood Books exemplifies that.
Cottonwood Books has stood through years of recreational evolution and marketing development. Located on Perkins Road, the small bookstore shares a location with Pinetta’s European Restaurant. Daniel Plaisance has been the shop’s owner and manager for the last 28 years.
With a collection of nearly 45,000 titles, Cottonwood specializes in books of southern literature and Louisiana culture. The smaller-than-average store contains a large amount, roughly 38,000, of secondhand and original editions of books that are no longer in print.
Despite today’s continuous output by authors both classic and burgeoning, Plaisance’s assortment of works keeps its modern selection to a minimum to keep the emphasis on the more historic side of literature.
“I have about 7,000 new titles that are pretty carefully selected,” Plaisance said. “We don’t just order anything new. We have to feel like we can move it pretty quickly.”
For consumers less interested in reading, Cottonwood boasts more than 100 books dating as far back as the late 17th century. These works serve as something more than reading material — the intrigue lies less in their content and more in their status as an antiquated object. Some of Plaisance’s prized pieces include first editions of “A Confederacy of Dunces,” works signed by Gerald Ford and books illustrated by Gustave Doré.
Plaisance acknowledged the difficulty of staying in business against the larger competition of major book retail chains and the continuous growth of e-reader users.
Companies like Books-A-Million and Amazon have seemingly put Cottonwood in a corner as one in the country’s dwindling population of independent bookstores. Plaisance recognizes the sale of “non-book items” as one of the serious threats of major retailers, referring to paraphernalia related to popular franchises and reading accessories.
“[The Kindle] has definitely hurt all bookstores, even the big guys,” Plaisance said. “Even though the national chains sell Kindles, in the long run it hurts them because they don’t sell the books. You’ll see gifts and toys to go along with the selection of books.”
A brick-and-mortar operation like Cottonwood gives customers the opportunity to peruse aisles and stacks of books. But in the modern age, the presence of online shopping has lessened the appeal of visiting local shops for some.
“It’s not unusual for most people to … tap a few keys and your book is on its way,” Plaisance said. “Before I kick the bucket, I’m sure there’ll still be people who want to buy books and turn the pages.
To counter the growing shift to alternative reading options, Cottonwood prides itself on its ability to keep a steady supply of interesting subjects and prose available to its customers. By staying open for nearly 30 years, Plaisance has developed the connections necessary for maintaining an attractive inventory.
“Luckily, I’ve been doing it long enough to know,” Plaisance said. “If you know where to look and you know what’s collectible or … when something is out of print.”
That experience in the business of book-buying combined with a careful mind for pricing are what have enabled Cottonwood to keep its doors open for so long. Plaisance cites the store’s focus on Louisiana topics as a way to expand its clientele rather than narrow it.
Cottonwood makes an effort to stay connected to both Baton Rouge and the University community. The shop’s section on Louisiana literature consists of mostly Louisiana authors, classic and current, and publications from Louisiana State University Press.
“[The books] are all geared for people who live here and that’s why they’re here,” Plaisance said.
Plaisance said he has no plans to expand or move the location of the shop. An increase in advertising could result in greater sales, but currently, the store stays modestly prosperous as one of the remaining independent bookstores in Baton Rouge.

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Emily Brauner

Cottonwood, owned by Daniel Plaisance and located at 3054 Perkins Rd., offers a variety of books that date back to as far as 1680.