BY PEPPER FISHER
Port Angeles – Port Book and News, the popular independent bookstore and giftshop that’s been a retail anchor in downtown Port Angeles for nearly 40 years, has been sold. Long-time owners Cindy and Alan Turner have conveyed ownership of the store to another local resident, Crystal McCormick.
The Turners opened shop at 104 East First Street back in 1986. Alan Turner says he’s proud of what he and Cindy have built, and he’s pleased with their choice of the new owner.
“It’s been a great 38 years in this town. It’s been a wonderful run. Both Cindy and I are delighted. We’ve had a great life. Not leaving town, we’ll be here through March to help them with the transition. Nothing much is going to change, except I hope that the jokes will improve. The current great staff is going to remain. The people that are taking over have deep roots in this town and they know how important this bookstore is to the town. We expect that they’ll just continue the legacy.”
Born and raised in Port Angeles, new owner Crystal McCormick spent ten years in the US Air Force following her graduation from Port Angeles High School in 1998. With a degree in accounting from Georgia State University, she returned to Port Angeles in 2010 and was hired by ACTI as an accounting clerk.
McCormick, who will soon be retiring as ACTI’s Chief Financial Officer, says she will be running the store with her partner Orion Paulsen and her mother, former CEO of First Fed, Karen McCormick.
It might seem to some that getting into the bookstore business, with online retailers such as Amazon dominating the market, might not be a prudent investment. But the truth is that Port Book and News is doing well, and independent bookstores in general have been experiencing a resurgence in recent years.
Both Turner and McCormick told us that there’s something about this community that loves a good book, and a good bookstore.
“I think you’re absolutely correct. And Alan and Cindy managed to steward this business through the Kindle era, and the introduction of digital books, and audio books, and somehow people still want to put a paper book into their hands. There’s something about it that is different than having a screen in your face. And I think that a lot of people in our local area appreciate that more. And I’m not quite sure what that is, but I’m sure thankful for it.”
Alan Turner has had almost 40 years to think about that, and he thinks books and reading, like our trees, are deep-rooted in northwest culture.
“This bookstore seems to have grown somewhat organically from the town. You know, I always say that without the support of this community, and people beyond its borders, this bookstore would not have been possible. People realize just how important books are to the preservation and transmission of our of our history and our culture.”
Cindy and Alan Turner will remain onsite at Port Book and News for a few months to help get McCormick and family up to speed and to continue adding literacy and bad jokes into the community. Stop by and say hello…and goodbye.