Stephanie Pius assumed ownership last month of the Bookshelf, which sells new and used titles in downtown Kalispell, Mont. The Daily Inter Lake reported that Pius, who purchased the business from Kyle Fort and Mary Wolf, said it had never occurred to her that the store could ever be anything other than a bookshop. Though she will maintain the foundation that the previous owners laid for the store, she looks forward to "putting her own stamp" on it.
"It's interesting how many people come in here and say, 'Oh, I'm so glad you're keeping this a bookstore!' Kyle and Mary had a good business and a lot of regulars, so I don't have plans to make any major changes," Pius noted.
Having homeschooled her seven children for two decades, with the youngest graduating recently from high school, Pius decided it was time to pursue her next adventure. A background in teaching and tutoring reading led to the decision that owning the Bookshelf would be an excellent opportunity.
"For the last year and a half I was looking for what I was going to do next," she said. "I have children with special needs so I need to have a job that I can leave to take care of them if I need to. This fell into my lap and the timing was ideal.... I'm excited because I love books and helping people find things to read. I love meeting and chatting with new people."
Pius wants the Bookshelf to remain an active part of the community by supporting organizations such as the National Audubon Society and Authors of the Flathead, as well as continuing to host author signings, book launches, and other events.
"I want this bookstore to be a place where people feel comfortable and can find what they want to read. I'd love for people to find the information they're looking for here," she said, adding: "This is a well-organized store. We have science fiction, fantasy, western, romance, spirituality, non-fiction, children and young adult books. But I'm still learning what to suggest because not every book is everyone's cup of tea."
She also encouraged people who may not consider themselves readers to come in and check out the Bookshelf's offerings: "If you think you don't like reading, it could be that you just haven't found the subject you're interested in. There's so many books on so many subjects and you don't have to read a thick book. Don't be scared of books."