New Owners Bringing Renewed Life to Chevalier’s Books

Window shoppers along Larchmont Boulevard were delighted to see the recent signage posted at 126 N Larchmont announcing Chevalier’s Books is “turning the page to a new chapter.” It’s good news for LA’s oldest independent bookstore: two book-loving and long-time Chevalier’s patrons, Bert Deixler and Darryl Holter, have bought Chevalier’s Books.

“We’re fixing it up, on a very tight schedule,” Bert Deixler told the Larchmont Buzz in a phone interview. “It will be much like it was in the past, though with more inventory. We think it’s so important to the Larchmont community – to have a neighborhood bookstore you can walk to with your kids and engage them in a love for books. It’s all the reasons people want to live in a community like this.”

The new store will be built out slightly differently with a large children’s section across the back of the store, many more books on hand to browse and buy, a newly updated computer system, and a  decorated interior. “I am by nature an optimist,” Deixler said. “I’m trusting the community will rally to support the store so it continues to thrive.”

The staff will remain the same with former owner Filis Winthrop still on hand in a supervisory role, Erica  managing the store and the dedicated sales staff of Allie, Julia and Tommy available to help customers. The bookstore was first opened in 1940. Winthrop bought the store in 1990, giving her almost 25 years on the boulevard as the village’s bookseller.

Deixler, a self-proclaimed “pathetically addicted book buyer”, trial attorney and commercial litigator, lives on Windsor Blvd and raised his family on Chevalier’s stock. Darryl Holter, a Hancock Park resident, former UCLA history professor and CEO of the Downtown LA Motor Group who “suffers from the same malady,” is the second partner in the purchase. Holter is recognized for his role in revitalizing the Figueroa automobile corridor.

November 8th is the target date for reopening and Sunday, November 9th there will be an in-store event to celebrate the new Chevalier’s. Bookstore fans are all welcome to visit the store Nov.9, from 5-7 pm, and raise a toast to the store’s next 75 years on Larchmont Boulevard.