Benchmark founder has built business around love of books

When Curt Bench started Benchmark Books 20 years ago, he had already spent 13 years working for Deseret Book. In fact, Deseret Book hired him as a part-time employee while he was attending Brigham Young University, working for a degree in communications.

After graduation Bench managed the stores in Fashion Place and Cottonwood Mall before developing an interest in rare books.

During an interview in his Benchmark office, the reserved, youthful, prematurely gray bookseller recalled suggesting to Deseret Book that they allow him to start buying out-of-print and used books. "Then, in 1984, I moved downtown to manage a store within a store — rare books at Deseret Book."

Over a three-year period, Bench became very knowledgeable about rare books, and he became acquainted with a young document dealer named Mark Hofmann , who was later convicted of forgery and murder and remains today in the Utah State Prison.

When Hofmann's documents — which had been sold to Bench, the LDS Church and others — turned out to be phony, Bench went through the blackest period of his life. To compound it, one of Bench's employees embezzled a quarter-of-a-million dollars. "It was sad because he was a good friend and trusted associate."

It also ruined Bench financially. "After Deseret Book closed the rare-book division, we started over in a teeny store we created on the third floor of the Carpenter Building, up the street from the Rio Grande Depot. Mostly, at first, my family worked for me, and I also worked part-time as a sales representative for Signature Books. Those years were tough, because we were trying to get to the bottom of our losses."

But Bench never considered quitting. "I have loved books since I was a kid, and I can convey that love to people. I didn't have a lot of overhead. But even in the worst years, we always made a profit. Sometimes it was very small — and there were lots of times when I didn't take a check myself."

Today, Benchmark Books is located near the corner of 3300 South and Main Street, a bit far from downtown but accessible to the freeway. Although Bench occupies the second floor, the building prominently bears his company name.

Eventually, he would like a bigger building. He employs eight to nine people, including his son, Chris, who will eventually take over the business.

Chris handles all the buying of used books, and his father plays detective with rare books and making transactions in many states and several foreign countries. Rare books represent about 60 percent of the business — one that focuses unashamedly on LDS-related books and periodicals.