What happened to the Klan bookstore in Vidor, Texas?

Many wonder what had happened to Klan bookstore in Vidor, Texas. Many people state Vidor had a Klan bookstore on their main street. This news article will explain in detail what happened to the Klan bookstore in Vidor, Texas.

Vidor, Texas was the national headquarters for the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) along with Dallas, Texas, Pulaski, Tennessee, and a handful of other American cities which were home to several other klaverns.
A Klan bookstore welcomed shoppers on Main Street back when the Texas KKK (Texas Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and White Camellia Knights) was headquartered in Vidor. The Klan catered local functions at this bookstore for many years for the communities of Vidor and Beaumont. 



Vidor’s Klan bookstore opened first opened in the year of 1974 and was called & referred to as Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Bookstore. It was housed inside of a single story house that was built for a single family in 1948 owned by John Hardy. The single story house was a 1,152 square foot structure on 0.48 acres worth of land. Interiors and exteriors were constructed out of wood. Many modifications and alterations were made overtime. (Ref: Orange County Official Public Records, Volume 195, Page 699)

Prior to the structure becoming the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Bookstore, it was a pharmacy. The building had been a burned-out pharmacy which had burned in a fire. The Vidor KKK and White Camellia Knights cleaned up the burned out pharmacy and converted it into a bookstore.

Steve Gibbs and John Hardy were the owners of the property. Ray Booker was the owner and operator of Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Bookstore. He was one of the two Grand Titans of Texas for Texas Knights of the Ku Klux Klan with Louis Beamer. Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Bookstore was an exclusive bookstore that only Ku Klux Klan members could browse or purchase from when it first opened. The general public was not permitted inside until 1976. (Ref: Patsy Sims, The Klan)


Vidor’s Klan bookstore opened to the public on June 5, 1976. This Klan bookstore was called the “Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Bookstore” and was located right next to City Hall. Only white customers were allowed. Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Bookstore was located at the address of 146 Main Street, Vidor, Texas. Its phone numbers were 409-749-7173, 409-769-7873, and 409-749-7873.
(Ref: Port Arthur News, Page 18, June 10, 1976)

It was advertised in Port Arthur News under the caption of “KNIGHTS OF THE KU KLUX KLAN Bookstore now open to the public”. (Ref: Port Arthur News, Page 26, June 5, 1976)

The building itself was painted white all around. Steps to the storefront were painted patriotic colors of red, white and blue. The building had a sign on top saying "Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Bookstore, 146 Main Street, Warehouse of Godly good!” (Ref: http://www.michaelcorcoran.net/archives/1688)

Inside the store was a booth that sold “nigger hunting” licenses for 50¢ cents. “KKK Kountry” and “Klan Kountry” signs were sold here for purchase. Books containing racist memorabilia and propaganda were sold at this bookstore. T-shirts for the price of $8 dollars were sold at a booth inside. A sign that warned “Nigger, don’t let the sun set on you in Vidor.” was placed inside the store. The Klan bookstore often had marketed racism towards blacks.

In 1978, the White Camellia Knights moved their Klan bookstore to Pasadena, Texas as a business move and after a series of legal maneuvers by the local District Attorney. There was more demand for Ku Klux Klan activity in Pasadena than there was in Vidor. Its interior was stripped of everything and its belongings moved with the Klan down to Pasadena. By 1979, the storefront had been sitting abandoned and vacant before being demolished.


John Hardy sold the property to Lillian McElroy in 1982. Lillian McElroy would own this property for 11 years. Water Necessities established their company on the property in 1982. She had the building demolished in 1985.

By 1987, the storefront was either demolished or moved. All that remained of the Klan bookstore structure were three red, white and blue steps that front the sidewalk. (Ref: http://www.michaelcorcoran.net/archives/1688)

On the date of 11/08/1993, Lillian McElroy sold the property to Larry Brewer. He was the grantee that purchased said property. (Ref: Orange County Official Public Records, Volume 924, Page 731)

A new house structure was hauled in by Larry Brewer in 2014 for his Vidor Realty Inc. real estate business. The steps were destroyed and leveled making the entrance more handicap accessible for those who are physically disabled.

Today Vidor Realty Inc. operates where the storefront of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Bookstore was once located. Larry Brewer now owns the property.


Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Bookstore was located at 1020 North Main Street, Vidor, Texas, US 77662.