St. Johns Booksellers

03/02/2022

Hello friends, it’s been a while. We have a situation.

Adam Sawyer (Professional Gentleman of Leisure) was a kind supporter of St. Johns Books. Some of you attended his talks at the bookstore, early in his career as an author. He has recently suffered the shocking loss of his partner and their cat in a house fire. As Adam always did for me, so I do for him: I’m putting his need out to the community. Can you help? Can you repost?

Also, check out Adam’s excellent guidebooks to the Northwest outdoors. Supporting his writing ultimately supports him. The books are available from our old colleagues at Powell’s, and there’s a new one coming out in April!

Miss you all—
Nena

I started this fundraiser to help my brother recover from the unimaginable loss he has suffered. In … Jade Chase needs your support for Help Adam Recover

01/18/2018

Friends, I haven't been in touch through this page in a while. I've missed you all. I'm well. I hope you are too. I received a message from a St. Johns neighbor who misses the 'third space' of our old bookstore, the gathering place and community hub that we created together.

Back before the building came crumbling down, when I expected to keep the shop moving forward, I raised the idea of converting the shop to either a co-op or a community-owned bookstore, and began to research and discuss the process. Neighbor Jay Thiemeyer would love to see that idea resurrected, if at all possible:

"Nena, would it be worthwhile- and not too presumptuous or imposing on you- to get you to ask any of people who were part of the booksellers community who were talking or just thinking about starting a bookstore collective to replace you, to contact me on Facebook or by '[email protected]' to discuss a collective? 'Windows' is a good store over on Wall about seven blox from Lombard but it hasn't got the immediacy you had. The daily reminder and place to congregate and believe in SJ as something more than a blue whale carcass for the gentrifier sharks to feed on?"

If you're interested, shoot Jay a note. I'll be glad to share what I learned about community-owned business, and maybe someone with expertise in the legal or financing aspects of that type of ownership will join in. I don't live in Portland any more, but St. Johns is still in many ways my heart's hometown, so I'd be delighted to see my old neighbors come together and build.

01/21/2016

SALE! These are the last days, my dears. Thousands of books and hundreds of games are 75% off. The complete Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brien...cookbooks...picture books...art books...military history...poetry...many books are under $3! Mysteries and romances start as low as 75 cents! Come stock up for chill February. We'll be gone, but you'll have books.

01/15/2016

Just cashed that reality check!

I'm taking some time today to catch up on things that need to happen so that you can see all the great books and cool games still in stock, and get some things into storage. I'm sorry for any inconvenience, and please message me if we are missing each other and you need to connect with me, or get something in particular.

01/07/2016

Q: If you're closing, why are these books still so expensive? Can't I just give you $3 for this?

A: There are three parts to the answer.

1. Specific to the used book you are looking at: That one is moderately collectible, priced accordingly. (Most of the books are significantly cheaper. You did pick a winner!) It's half off that price, so quite a good deal. If it's still here in a week or two, when I am discounting even more, you will get a price you like better. Check back. Or buy it now if you want to be sure of getting it. At half of my price, it's cheaper than the cheapest copy listed online when you factor in shipping.

2. In the case of new books: New books can be returned to the suppliers for credit on my bill. This $17 paperback will net me $8, so I can't responsibly take less for it. New books will not be discounted below 50% except to educators.

3. As far as the closing clearance process: The books and games are now half off their list price. I'm going to keep reducing, week by week. Everybody must pick their own balance point between selection and price. If somebody comes in and wants to nab a used book at the current discount, yay. If not, it will still be here when I drop the prices again in a few days. That's how these things work. It can be a treasure hunt, a game...enjoy!

01/03/2016

I have always loved snow days in the bookstore. I'll never forget the snowstorm of 12/08, when snowbound neighbours did their holiday shopping in St. Johns, and showed up on skis and snowshoes!

01/03/2016

Well, dears, I was here and being all helpful when along came a surprising headache and a wave of nausea. I haven't had a cluster headache in years, but apparently the process of shutting down this bookstore is enough to light one off. So, with apologies, I'm closing early to go tend to it. See you tomorrow.

01/01/2016

The new year means goodbye to this old bookstore! I have to return the keys on 1/31...time is growing short. Everything is still Buy 1 Get 1 Free for now, with more reductions to come. Find treasures and surprises while you can!

12/25/2015

Good night, all. Enjoy your Christmas, however you choose to keep it.

12/24/2015

Open until 4 today!

12/21/2015

A visit from the Grinch! Special story-in-performance for our last Christmas with you: