“A couple of weeks ago my husband and I came into your beautiful shop looking for books for our granddaughter. You recommended Alan Bradley, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. It was a huge hit! Thanks so much for the recommendation. (Now she wants the entire series.) Just thought you’d like to know you make a real difference! Please tell your staff how much their services are appreciated.”
That light that comes on in a child’s eyes keeps us getting up and opening the bookstore every day! We so love to hear that what we do makes a difference . . . for readers of all ages. It’s how we connect and build community. It’s how we keep relating to each other in turbulent seas. It is that book on the shelf that brings us hope and renewed spirit in big and small ways. Thank you to all our customers near and far. We’re here because of you and for you. Here’s to happy reading!
Who would have thought that we’d be starting our 4th year in the midst of a pandemic?! But here we are. Along with thousands of independent bookstores across the globe, we have had to shake off the nerves and focus on a solution to staying in business. We had to figure out the answer to: when the doors are ordered closed, how does a walk-in operation survive? It is very much a two-part answer. First – we had to shift into full time phone and online orders. Second – we had to have customers continue to virtually come our way. The good news? Both seem to be working. And the even better news? The interaction with customers has been personal, heartwarming and encouraging. From the doctor who bought each staff member a gift certificate for the book of their choice; to the mom wanting to know the best books for her children; to the son ordering a cookbook for his mom – so many people connecting with love across the wires. They’ve expressed thanks for our selection help, sadness at not being able to visit in person, and thumbs up for hanging in there. The healing power of books is something Seaport Books has always known to be true. During times of crisis, that power is doubled by the community spirit that holds each and every page. Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to being here for you today, tomorrow and beyond!
Last month we shared our joy at becoming the community hub we had envisioned. Author nights, book clubs, workshops, meet ‘n greets, book launches – it’s all happening. But who could have guessed the reach our store would realize? Our map of the United States is mounted on a wall so customers can mark where they are visiting from. Lots of dots from WA, BC and CA; quite a number from the East Coast states; sprinklings of folks from just about every state in between; out to HI and down into Mexico. We love seeing all those marks representing happy readers. And what we really love is the thrill of what now feels like a global community. Customers from Melborne, Tokyo, Hamburg, Kuala Lumpur and just last week, four visitors from Tallinn, Estonia. Wow! We’re going to need a bigger map! At a time when much focus is being placed on divisive words, we are pleased to be a place where a diverse audience can read works by diverse artists. Books carry the power to illuminate, engage and guide. Here’s to readers of all ages whatever corner of Planet Earth you hail from. “It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me the most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.” James Baldwin
“Independent bookstores are not just stores, they’re community centers and local anchors run by passionate readers. They are entire universes of ideas that contain the possibility of real serendipity. They are lively performance spaces and quiet places where aimless perusal is a day well spent.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. And here’s more from the folks at the helm of Indie Bookstore Day: “In a world of tweets and algorithms and pageless digital downloads, bookstores are not a dying anachronism. They are living, breathing organisms that continue to grow and expand. In fact, there are more of them this year than there were last year. And they are at your service.” That we are! Seaport Books looks forward to being a community resource and book lover haven for years to come. Join us on Saturday April 29th as we celebrate 
SEAPORT BOOKS 360-399-1800 