Corner Book Store is at a crossroad
—Photo by KEITH KINNAIRD Jim Orbaugh is on the hunt for a new location for the Corner Bookstore and may have to retire if the search fails to bear fruit.
SANDPOINT — The Corner Bookstore is getting boxed out of its downtown location.
Owner Jim Orbaugh said he was informed three weeks ago by the building’s owner that he has until New Year’s Eve to clear out of the space he has occupied for nearly 20 years.
The building is owned by the owner of clothing retailer Finan McDonald, which also occupies the building at the corner of First Avenue and Main Street and is expanding.
Orbaugh said the abrupt news leaves him with precious few options — put his stock into storage while he finds another downtown location or retire.
Orbaugh said the latter option is the “least desirable.”
“I’m certainly not ready to,” Orbaugh said of retirement.
Orbaugh is hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. He’s liquidating his inventory with 20- to 50-percent off of everything in the store. Those with trade-in credit are strongly encouraged to stop in the store and redeem it while there’s still an ample selection of books.
The store is also striving to serve its customers despite the possibility of permanent closure. Orbaugh said he’s still continuing to order best-selling books in order to keep plenty in stock as people commence with their holiday shopping.
Orbaugh said the owner dropped hints that he might be forced to vacate the premises, although he thought the remarks were made in jest.
“I had no idea,” said Orbaugh. “I took that as joking.”
Orbaugh said the new location has to have easy access to tourists in order to sustain the business. The high season in Sandpoint is the Corner Book store’s bread and butter, said Orbaugh. Gains made during summer months allow him to squirrel away rent money for the rest of the year.
“My customers have been my family. I’ve seen kids grow up,” said Orbaugh.
Orbaugh said he’s seen many a downtown store come and go. He chalks up his ability to thrive by finding the gear that Sandpoint operates on.
“I picked up on the rhythm of the town immediately,” he said.
Orbaugh has also built a reputation and a following. He’s also trying to stay optimistic.
“I kind of see it working out,” said Orbaugh. “I’m trying to stay positive on that.”