The Write Business: The Story of Cavalier House Books

In the heart of old Denham Springs resides a bookstore named after a couple who graduated from Southeastern and chose the community above everything—even books.

John and Michelle Cavalier met through a mutual friend at a local bookstore before embarking on their daily
commutes to Southeastern. After spending countless hours in Sims Memorial Library, drafting ideas, business plans and friendship, Cavalier House Books was created by the pair in 2005.

“We used the heck out of the computer labs,” John said about starting his business while enrolled at Southeastern. “In between classes I was always in the computer lab doing schoolwork, but then, also, starting our business.”

John and Michelle (maiden name Badeaux) both graduated in 2009 and married that same year. John chose a degree in political science and Michelle a liberal arts degree. Both picked their degrees for their versatility and the University for its modest class size options. Southeastern provided the two with a more engaging experience and homey atmosphere compared to other larger institutions, according to John and Michelle.

Michelle originally chose to study English when she arrived on campus, but eventually transitioned to liberal arts after developing an attraction to Southeastern’s Italian courses. To make room for more courses in that field, Michelle opted to switch majors and provide herself with opportunities to “go where her curiosity takes her.”

“Being able to dig into whatever my intellectual curiosity was at any given point was what the [liberal arts degree] afforded me and let my life continue in that direction,” Michelle said.

Michelle credits Dr. Lucia Harrison for her passion in Italian culture. That passion took her on a study abroad trip to Italy through Southeastern. Dr. Harrison initially stimulated her mind to explore diff