Tyler and Stefani Miller are the new owners of Riverwalk Books in Chelan, Wash., "ushering in a new era while honoring the bookstore's deep local roots," the Lake Chelan Mirror reported. The bookstore was founded in the 1990s by Libby Manthe, who died several years ago. Her husband, Bob Manthe, continued running the store, with Stefani Miller managing day-to-day operations.
"My wife, Stefani, has actually been managing the store for almost four years," said Tyler Miller. "And I had worked here as a teenager, years and years ago. We're book people--book lovers, big readers, of course. I've always been interested in owning a bookstore and being able to put it together and do it the way you'd like to."
The Millers took ownership just days before Fourth of July weekend, but "the store is well-established. It has a long history and a good reputation," Tyler said. "People come here every year while on vacation, so we haven't had to worry about finding customers. That's been really encouraging."
Bob Manthe said it felt like the right moment to pass the torch: "Stefani worked for me for a while and she knows the store. She has a passion for books.... Our family's been doing this for a long time, and we thought it was the right time with the right person to take it over and follow the tradition of what my wife, Libby, had started."
Noting that they have no plans to drastically change the store, Tyler Miller said, "We're not going to renovate or refashion it into something totally new. It's a bookstore--we're going to have all kinds of books in here, just like before. We are moving some things around to make space for more inventory, but the core of what makes it special isn't changing."
He added: "We want families to feel like this is a fun, welcoming place--a spot where kids of all ages can hang out, read, or just explore.... I hope people feel a lot of excitement when they come in--enthusiasm to see a lot of books on the shelves again. We really hope that families feel like this is a really fun and cozy environment where kids of all ages can come and hang out."