A look into what happened to the Ku Klux Klan bookstore in Metairie, Louisiana.

There was once a Ku Klux Klan bookstore in Metairie, Louisiana called Patriot Bookstore which was operated by the infamous David Duke. Patriot Bookstore operated for more than 20 years before being shut down by the State of Louisiana. This news article will explain what happened to the Ku Klux Klan bookstore in Metairie, Louisiana.


Patriot Bookstore was a Ku Klux Klan ran bookstore that was founded by David Duke, Davy Quinn, and Ray Booker in 1968 in Metairie, Louisiana. Patriot Bookstore operated for many years. Racist literature was sold in this bookstore. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=X2WD3EnAVvEC&pg=PA105&lpg=PA105)

Patriot Bookstore also operated under the name Patriot Press too. Patriot Press was the mail order part of the Patriot Bookstore business. Patriot Press also put out a variety of racist brochures, Klan paraphernalia, Nazi literature, and other small publications. Basically Patriot Press served as a mail-order business for Patriot Bookstore. The PO Box for Patriot Press was Box 624, Metairie, LA 70004. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/221983710/)

The Galveston Daily News described David Duke of having ran his Patriot Bookstore in a deteriorating working-class neighborhood in Metairie, Louisiana while his house was just 4 blocks away from his Patriot Bookstore. He employed a small staff of "true believers" and payed them minimum wage. They ran the store and handled the mail-order trade in Klan paraphernalia. David Duke paid his bills from proceeds of racist literature he sold through the Patriot Bookstore back when he was in the Ku Klux Klan. The house doubled as the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan "national headquarters." (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16785260/?source=browse)

The books cover a broad range of anti-black and anti-Semitic materials, including Hitler's Mein Kampf for $5. The Crusader includes in every edition several articles about the views and travels of Grand Wizard Duke, plus appeals for operating funds. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/112981875/?source=browse)

His office in the Patriot Bookstore in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie received 6,000 to 10,000 inquiries a month for information, applications and offers to work for the Klan. He paid $250 a month for the two rooms occupied by Patriot Bookstore. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16785260/)

The National Convention of the New Christian Crusade Church held their conventions at Patriot Bookstore at 3410 Johnson Street in Metairie, Louisiana much throughout the mid-1970s. They would hold what was called an “Indoor Rally” at that time.


Interestingly enough, Florida Today reported that many of Duke’s members did not read or they were illiterate. Another of his former associates, James K Warner of Baton Rouge, who has had a sharp split with him, says, "David runs a bookstore, but many of his members don't read” which is were the irony lies. That is what made his whole business ironic. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/124967022/)

His bookstore was covered in Klan attire, Nazi propaganda, and Klan paraphernalia. On the front windows of his bookstore were 2 fiery cross flags in red and white. Flags could be seen all inside of this bookstore. Mostly Klan flags. Sitting in front of a huge Klan flag, a black cross on a white circle in a red field, hung behind heavy gauge mesh covering the windows in his bookstore office. Duke said his organization was dedicated to fighting for the civil rights of white citizens, through educational programs, public appearances on television shows, debates with black leaders and legal action. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/16785260/?source=browse)

Patriot Bookstore sent their hate malign to places as far as Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. One example is in 1978, a professor and a student at the University of Manitoba had received hate literature from Patriot Bookstore in the mail via letter. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/browse/ca/mb/winnipeg/winnipeg-free-press/1978/jun-29-p-3/)


Patriot Bookstore was dissolved by the Louisiana Secretary of State for inactive action and for failure to file annual report among other issues. A myriad of legal issues are what caused David Duke to shut down his bookstore. He could no longer operate his bookstore because he failed to file an annual report for the Patriot Bookstore. (Ref: https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_la/04508530N)

The store later served as a hair salon in 1998. The hair salon closed in 2002 during the 2002-2003 fiscal year. Today Patriot Bookstore is now home to a deli called Zummos. Zummos has been operating at this location since 2012.

Patriot Bookstore was located at 3410 Johnson Street, Metairie, Louisiana, US 70001. Their PO Box was Box 1, Metairie, LA 70004. The PO Box for Patriot Press was Box 624, Metairie, LA 70004.