Ohh, the books, the books

Owner Dacia Hanson, with her current read " Your Vigor for Life Appalls Me - Robert Crumb Letters" by R.Crumb

The return of the independent bookstore to Renton is finally here - and the wait was well worth it. 11 year veteran of McDonald's Book Exchange in Redmond, Dacia Hanson opened her doors this week in the Louisa Building on Wells Ave. S. in a lovely space and shelves that are filling rapidly.

With an emphasis on reasonable prices and customers bringing in books for exchange and credit in the store, now is a great time to spring clean at home. A cool bonus is that your credit will be honored at the sister store in Redmond, owned by Dacia's friend and previous employer, Ann St.Germaine. Though two separate businesses, the idea for this Renton store began when Ann and Dacia noted that McDonald's Book Exchange had enough books coming through the door to fill another shop. Customers from as far away as Olympia and Chehalis were coming to exchange their books on the store's generous terms, so obviously there was a large market that was still yet to be tapped.

All genres are represented at the shop, though a steady overturn in the Romance section is to be expected. Already boasting a good selection of Philip Roth books, a couple of vintage editions of Black Beauty and volume one and two of Art Speigelman's Maus, Dacia is pleased with the growth her new shop has already seen.

If you don't see her as often as you would like this week - it's because she had a car accident recently and is working on getting a new set of wheels. I can already tell that it will not be long before both Dacia and her shop feel like old friends in the DTR.

Old Renton Book Exchange
227 Wells Ave. South
425.430.BOOK / 425.430.2665

Across the street from the bookstore, Dawn Finn has opened the doors of her thrift and swap shop and is now accepting donations and has stall space up for rent for interested parties. This street in Renton has got so many new moves, it is hard to fathom.

Remember the metal detector store? Seems like the empty store front has finally been rented and that a beauty salon will open soon. Yep, right there on Wells Ave.S.

What did I tell ya - this block is the current bomb of activity.

Keeping a watch on Wells Street

top photo from here

Wells Street is the place to keep watching. Within a very short time, there will be two or three new businesses opening and the Savings and Loan building is moments away from completion.

First off,workers are diligently transforming what used to be a portion of the previous Antique Mall on Wells Street into an Asian Fusion Restaurant. I have no other clues about menu, owner or other foodie information, but I am excited to see what cozy little nook of a place is going to be opening. Just when you wanted to sigh in despair for our local restaurant scene's recent attrition, you get good news like this. Yeah for our team!

Renton has sorely been in need of an independent bookshop, and the Old Renton Book Exchange at 227 Wells will be opening in March to fill the void. "Offering used books from current to collectibles at the best price and the fairest exchange rate" is what is being advertised in a flyer that is seen about town and last I looked, the carpenter was in the house building bookshelves. What a great addition this will be to our fair DTR.

As luck would have it, I ran into Dawn Finn who is looking to create a Thrift Store in the other remaining half of the old Antique Mall digs on Wells Street in the very near future. After the closure of Value Village, Dawn seeks to give thrifters another reasonable priced outlet for secondhand shopping. This is great news for me - I live for the thrill of the thrift hunt.

So, keep your eyes peeled. Wells Street is just starting to heat up.