09/16/2025
Of all the places in all the worlds, we're so happy that Pacific is our home. ❤️❤️📚❤️❤️
I am so honored that Julianne sat down with me for a quick interview when we made her Facebook reel last week. She is such a strong voice of positivity. When I asked her why she decided to open Pages in Pacific, here is what she told me:
“It was really a combination of factors. I grew up a very poor bookworm, so books were always these immeasurable treasures to me, and I wanted to be able to share that with people. But also living here in Pacific, when we bought our house and I started walking my dog around the neighborhood, when this building became available and this space became available, I couldn't think of anything more perfect for the community than a bookstore. It kind of turns us into that little ideal Hallmark town, because we already have the coffee shop, Kaleidoscope and many great places to eat. We live in this part of town, but also I am a real believer in Main Street America. I think that when we sit down and get to know our neighbors and build a really strong community, that creates the kind of magic that everybody's been trying to replicate in movies and TV shows and on bigger and bigger stages, and there's really nothing like it. And I've met the most wonderful people here. I really love where we're headed as a community. Because you know, a small town like this can grow either through expanding or by enriching experiences. And I think we're walking a pretty fine line there. And the more places we have where people can come and walk around and come to festivals and come to the rodeo, then it doesn't create that pressure that you have to build, build, build, build, build.”
I asked her about her biggest challenge she’s faced so far as a small business owner in downtown Pacific: “As a mom with six kids, we have all of those normal challenges, but I think the hardest thing for me was putting my ego aside and trying to reflect the community. And I think that's really hard for any business owner. I have an idea of what I want to put forward and what I want to create and what I want to show off, and I get to do that, but listening to the community and where their needs were, and what they needed was, more than anything, a place to gather and be together where you didn't have to spend money every 15 minutes to an hour, which obviously we are commerce, so we want to make money, but really just trusting that the people knew what they needed. And we've been really embraced for that. It's created some interesting things in myself, but I think that was really the hardest thing for me as we built, is just following other people's lead.”
I also learned she’s writing a book of poetry inspired by Pacific: “I'm so enchanted by Pacific, it's really very special. And the fact that we're on this end of town, like, naturally bounded by the cliffs and then the river and I'm right where town ends. And so when I walk around the neighborhood, I'm enraptured by Pacific.”
Julianne, you have enchanted us, thank you for making Downtown Pacific thrive with your awesome book selection, the comfy, safe space you provide, and all the amazing events you host! Visit Pages in Pacific at 101 W St. Louis St in Pacific, MO.
