""I went to Wordstock in 2005 when it was still Wordstock, and I felt like I had walked into the world I should have been in my whole life," Emmerling said, referring to what is now called the Portland Book Festival. It wasn't long after that Emmerling and her husband, John, a blacksmith, were delivering a fireplace he'd crafted. When they drove by a bookstore, Emmerling recalled, "I said, 'You know, when we retire, it would be fun to open a bookstore.'""
"SEASIDE - In an era when much of the news from the book business involves bankruptcy or downsizing, the story of a little shop on the Oregon Coast attracting loyal customers nationwide might seem the stuff of fiction. But were the story of Seaside's Beach Books to find its way into the pages of a book, it would be found not under Fantasy, but Nonfiction, on a shelf, perhaps, with books on topics like the secret of success or how to win loyal customers."
Beach Books opened in Seaside, Oregon, after owner Karen Emmerling experienced a decisive "aha" moment and found an ideal retail space while empty-nesting. The store occupies 2,500 square feet just blocks from the beach and celebrated its twentieth anniversary. The business endured major industry changes, including competition from Amazon and the rise of eBooks, and experimented with devices like Kobo. Emmerling and her husband transitioned from other trades to retail and gradually built a loyal customer base from across the country, resulting in growing success despite early challenges.
Read at Oregon ArtsWatch * Arts & Culture News
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