Big Congrats to Cannon Beach Book Company, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary. On Main Street, one block from the ocean, the store is like a big beach house stocked with everything you need to weather a storm or hang out on the beach all day. CBBCo. specializes in contemporary and classic literature, with a large mystery section, great children’s books and a strong selection of regional titles. They also have an eclectic selection of gift items that include Paper Blanks journals, Mudlark note cards, Envirosax and some great reading glasses.

Owner Valerie Ryan opened the store with a partner, John Buckley, in 1980. She then sold the store to Buckley in 1983 and moved to Seattle for twelve years. She bought the store back from Buckley in 1995 and has been there since. Ryan, who is also a freelance book reviewer, took some time out of her busy summer schedule to answer some questions for us.

If your store had a motto, what would it be? Ours is the perfect browser’s bookstore; there is something for everyone, if you have good taste . . .

Number of Employees? Four most of the time, five in the summer

Square Feet? 2,000

Store cat? OMG!  NO!  I hate cats.

Creaky floors quotient (or some facts about your space)? We have a very high ceiling in the back,so high that we can’t change light bulbs back there and have to call the landlord with the REALLY TALL ladder to come and do it for us. We have a step in the middle of the store, mandated by the City because the back of the store had to be above the flood plain. The City changed its mind AFTER the construction of the new part of the store and, were we to remodel now, we would be level. GRRR! It’s a big pain because people trip up and trip down, despite a BIG sign and streamers.

Who are your regulars? A few locals and many, many tourists, though sometimes not enough . . .

What are some of the other businesses you frequent in your neighborhood? Restaurants, Purple Moon Boutique, Dena’s Shop on the Corner

What’s the best lunch within walking distance? Lazy Susan next door, EVOO up the street, Driftwood across the street, Seasons a block and a half away.

What beach reads did you recommend this summer? We all have very different tastes, so here are a few: The Glass Room by Simon Mawer; Winter Vault by Anne Michaels, Brazzaville Beach by William Boyd; Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, Mudbound by Hillary Jordan and I could go on and on and on.

Cannon Beach staff celebrating their 30th anniversary. Ryan is second from the right.

We also have a chick lit section that we call Beach Reads to avoid being TOO insulting, and it has all the regulars: Jane Green, Sophie Kinsella, Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner, Elin Hildebrand, Kate Jacobs, Nancy Thayer, etc. Not the section we love, but a good place for visitors to pick up something mindless and vacation-y for their sojourn here . . .

A book you love to give as gift? A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean. The last three paragraphs of that story bring me to my knees every time. I cannot read them without getting a lump in my throat! Such gorgeous writing! Also, Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner.

A CD that would make a good soundtrack for the store? We love light classical — piano concerti, etc. –  and cool jazz.  Music with words is too, too distracting.

Name a book blog or website you frequent? Shelf Awareness and about a million others.

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