“In The Beginning”: A little More than a Bookstore

Karsceal Turner – I Got Next!

Charles Thomas has always been an intellectual. The 30-year-old left his Duval County (Jacksonville) upbringing and traveled down I-95 to Bethune-Cookman College (Now University), in Daytona Beach and embarked on a collegiate career which yielded a degree in Religion & Philosophy.

Thomas set out to create a meeting place for like- minded individuals such as himself.  You see Thomas is a student, teacher, philosopher, leader, and visionary. The brother of Alpha Phi Alpha is a visionary and simply wanted to establish a meeting place; instead he was blessed with a venue, which is that and much more.

As one walks through the doors of “In The Beginning” one is accosted first by the array of Divine Nine, Masonic and Order of the Eastern Star Paraphernalia, and THEN you are personally greeted by the shop owner himself.

August 2007 was the Grand Opening of the store, which is located at 863 Orange Ave in Daytona Beach and is actually in the heart of the Black neighborhood. It sits across from a grocer, and down the street from the DMV and a Church’s Chicken, and a barber shop.

Now, in its 6th year, ITB has evolved and expanded greatly. Thomas couldn’t be happier.

“The original idea revolved around not only carrying Greek paraphernalia, but also books and artwork which portray us as a people. The aim is to put our culture out there and provide a meeting venue and a resources provider like a modern day community center.

Thomas said community support has been forthcoming and positive. He marveled at people from all walks of life who have come to the shop.

“There have been lots of good insight from the community at-large and community service book clubs meet here. In addition to a variety of books, we also provide a place for aspiring authors to showcase their talent and distribute their work,” Thomas said.

“Many people come by who are not collegiately tied such as the Masons, the Eastern Stars, the Elks, etc. Certainly the area schools; people meet and showcase their consciousness. The shop has been very well supported by the community. At any given time one may see a Chess game in action or participate in a heated discussion on philosophies,” Thomas added.

As a Community Resource Center

Currently, an adjacent room to the bookstore moonlights as a meeting place for Abraham #587 Masonic lodge. Thomas said it is great to have an all-inclusive meeting place for the order in which he belongs.

“Various Elks chapters also meet here. Use of the shop as a meeting venue has been great because there have been so many elderly groups and auxiliaries who meet here. I sit with them and after meetings, make sure they feel safe and make it to their cars. The shop is great as a self-contained meeting space. This is a community based store to be used to the benefit of ALL people. If we can’t help we want to point people in the right direction to get help,” he said.

As a Greek Apparel store

Thomas gave a brief description of what the shop entailed but I was already caught up in the whirlwind of all the eye candy and interrupted him to ask what the best seller at the shop was since I know he is “Ice Cold” (A-PHI-A). After a hearty laugh he said apparel, shorts, and shirts. “The AKAs and Deltas frequent the shop most. Many people go for the art work, there’s lots of collegiate stuff, we try to keep everything fresh, volume increases at homecoming and around the Florida Classic, and especially during pledge season, are all very good times for the shop,” Thomas said.

“A little known fact is we also cater to Embry-Riddle. Although we don’t regularly carry apparel, we can order or create whatever your vision is. We create everything and have serviced family reunions, motorcycle clubs, and anyone with an idea for apparel designs. Whatever your mind can conceive, we can create for you,” he added. Yours truly can attest to that last statement. The majority of the outrageous stuff I wear as a mason and a NUPE is created at “In the Beginning”.

As a proprietor Thomas said he is easily accessible and may be reached via email at [email protected] or at [email protected]. By phone he may be reached at (386) 238-1059.

Shop hours are Tuesdays to Fridays 10am to 7 pm or by appointment.

The continuing effort

“We’re pushing the website www.inthebeginninglive.com and taking things global and have brought in Nutrition and technology to cater to the people within the community. We want to do more community involvement things such as mentoring, along with shoes and clothes drives, we want people to truly see and use it as a resource center.”

“People from all affiliations have embraced it. We are the go-to place for products such as; Greek paraphernalia, Masonic Regalia, black art & home décor, African health/beauty products and your literary needs. Our great collection of books features subjects such as religion & philosophy, fraternal science, and African American studies,” Thomas concluded.