Beginning July 1, the Salem bookstore formerly known as Tea Party will get a new name: Tigress Books. The name comes from a blessing by a Tibetan Buddhist, Lama Karma, in Portland, Tea Party owner JoAnne Kohler told Willamette Live.
“He told me this year … in order to succeed, you need to be a tiger,” she said with a laugh.
Sharing her business's name with a certain political movement has become a nuisance for Kohler. She originally named the store “Tea Party” because
she liked the idea of revolution and channeling the spirit of the populace rising up to protest corporate control of its buying choices. But when the Tea Partiers took hold, Kohler told Willamette Live, she has increasingly seen party members wander in or call looking for information about the group. Most leave disappointed without buying anything.
Two years after she first opened her doors, Kohler said the name change also gives her an opportunity to assess what she has done right and refine the business. “I have a much better feel for what the community wants and what people are looking for,” she said. “I’m looking at this as an opportunity to make the store better all around and have fun doing it.”
The store’s books will focus on personal growth and transformation, positive living and green living.
