Bookshop Adventures

photo 1It’s true, we are taking over ownership of a small, mostly used bookshop in downtown Olympia on Wednesday. We have been working on this for months and months now and it feels so good to say yes, this is what we are doing! This is for sure a family project. Chris and Mendy are involved. I am going to be running this thing and Telfer is helping me with a lot of financial and operational details. Telfer and I love a project (how many times have I said this?) but this has trumped all in terms of details and obstacles.

Browsers Bookshop has been in downtown Olympia since 1935. I am (I think) the fourth owner — all of which have been women. The current owner, J, has been at the bookshop before I was born. I really like her. She is staying until the end of December to show me the ropes. In January, we will start a renovation of sorts. And then maybe a party is in order? Stay tuned. The bookshop has lovely bones (ahem) but really needs updating and a fresh beginning.

So this is the project I have been alluding to all spring and summer. I am of course NOT quitting my day job at the library although I did move down to .5 and so your kind thoughts and prayers would not be amiss as we navigate this new adventure.

My girls will grow up in a bookshop. This is going to be complicated and all of that but I get to mess about with books all day long. Can you even imagine how much fun this will be? I will write about this on the blog a bit but I am mostly going to use my instagram account (and link it to Facebook) to document the process.

Any words of advice? Right now, not unwelcome at all.

Published by Andrea Y. Griffith

owner of browsers. former librarian. wife. mother to two tweens and the cutest labradoodle in the world.

10 thoughts on “Bookshop Adventures

    1. I love how the sunshine rays show in the picture of your bookshop. It’s a lovely place and I have enjoyed browsing. I will be back.

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  1. Visiting granddaddy for thanksgiving. Can not wait to tell him your news. I can not wait to visit your shop- I see a summer job in my future! You can do this- it’s going to be great.

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  2. I don’t know if I want a summer job…but I am more than willing to drink coffee and visit. A lot. Happiness and prayers for all. Love you.

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  3. Holy Cow Andrea! You didn’t breathe a word to me when we were talking about our get together in December? Holy Moly! This is soooo exciting!!! I mean so exciting! Wow! You are perfect perfect perfect for this endeavor. I KNOW this little historic bookstore is going to be hugely successful!

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