We can say that the tradition of books in our country began with the need for evangelization of the Spaniards, because when the printing press arrived in Mexico, in 1539, it was because Don Fray de Zumárraga decided to stop importing religious books from Europe and create them in the so-called New Spain. Over time, the books expanded their themes; and three centuries later, the Retes Bookstore would continue the bookstore tradition to this day.
On the foundation of the Retes Bookstore
The story goes that José María Retes migrated with his family from the Basque Country to the city of Mazatlán in search of business opportunities and in 1821 founded the Retes Printing and Bookstore.
However, in 1847 he decided to move to Tepic as the city flourished due to intense economic activity; Driven above all by the port of San Blas, which at that time was one of the main points of trade between Mexico and the world.
Later, when Don José, the founder, died, his sisters took over both businesses, between 1895 and 1925. At that time the only publishers were Spanish or French and the topics they dealt with were more about trades, such as tailoring and calligraphy. ; or religious.
From when the most famous poet in Mexico works in the family printing house
According to an interview that the current owner of the bookstore, José Villegas Retes, gave to Canal Once, the poet Amado Nervo, as a young man, worked for Retes Printing as a linotypist because “he just wanted to be in contact with letters.” Some time later, Nervo would leave Tepic never to return.
The Retes Library from the 20th century
The founder’s sisters managed the business until 1945, then it passed into the hands of other relatives until in 1976, when the parents of José María Retes were in charge and the bookstore lived out its golden years until the late 1990s, when shoppers lined up and writers presented their books.
Finally, despite the arrival of the internet, digital books and the pandemic; the Retes Bookstore, with more than two centuries of existence, is still alive and well. His best-selling books? The Little Prince, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Capital by Karl Marx and of course, poetry by Amado Nervo.
Long live the Retes Bookstore!
The bookstore is located at Avenida México Norte 293, Centro, Tepic, Nayarit.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed Sunday.