Haines’ Main Street book shop will change hands for a third time in less than three years, and the new owner’s name for her store will reflect what the space has been traditionally known for: “The Bookstore.”
Moosterious Emporium owner Jo Goerner, who bought the store last November and transitioned to selling musical instruments, games and toys, art supplies and used books rather than new books, sold a portion of her inventory to Amy Kane, 45, who is moving to Haines from Sitka to start the store fresh.
Kane was in town last week picking through the store’s inventory and working out a deal with Goerner, who plans to change the name of her business to Chilkat Lounge. Goerner hopes to move her business to Dalton City, where she’ll focus solely on instruments, music lessons, art supplies and games.
Kane plans to move to Haines in December when she will add shelving, replace the flooring and rebuild the space. She plans to open The Bookstore around Feb. 1.
“My vision is what people would consider a typical bookstore,” Kane said. “Mostly books and other things as well: bags and mugs and pens and journals, things you would find in your typical bookstore. It will be curated for what people in Haines want to see in their local bookstore.”
Kane said she plans to feature local and Southeast authors, as well as stock new releases and used books. Special orders will be available. “I’m very open to what people want to see in the bookstore,” Kane said. “I’m really excited to have a bookstore in that space again.”
Kane, who owned the successful Larkspur Café in Sitka for seven years, said she’s wanted to move to Haines for years after multiple visits with her best friend from college, Andrea Nelson, and stints of summer jobs. She worked as a cook in a number of Haines restaurants including the Halsingland, the Bamboo Room and Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures.
“Having always gone into the bookstore, there was a rumor that the current owner was thinking of moving to a different space,” Kane said. “I put out some feelers.”
Tom Heywood, former Babbling Book co-owner, said he and his wife Liz are happy to see a bookstore remain in the shop they owned for more than a decade. “We’re just happy to see that there’s going to be the continuation of a long tradition of a bookstore on Main Street,” Heywood said. “We think (Kane’s) going to do a really good job.”
Goerner was the second owner of the store after the Heywoods sold The Babbling Book in 2017 to Darcee Messano, who named the store The Babbling Book and Dragon’s Nook. Messano sold the store to Goerner in November, 2018.
“It turns out there’s enough support for books and the arts that it was too much for me to do by myself,” Goerner said. “When I received notice there was someone interested in the books’ side of things, it seemed to be a natural path. It will allow me to focus more on teaching lessons.”
In the meantime, Goerner plans to offer a 15 percent off storewide, going-out-of-business sale that will run from Monday, Oct. 28 through Nov. 30, when she will close the doors.