by MICHAEL DASHIELL
Sequim Gazette
For Vickie Maples, it’s a dream come true.
For Marti McAllister Wolf, it’s the start of a new adventure.
After 18 years of providing Sequim with new and used books, gift cards, games and more, McAllister Wolf has sold her business, Pacific Mist Books, to Maples, a former Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce executive director.
“I’ve been thinking about it for three years,” McAllister Wolf says. “I’m ready to do something else.”
For Maples, the purchase is something of a dream fulfilled. Her first recollections of her youth, Maples says, are voraciously reading Nancy Drew books and seeing her parents constantly thumbing through books. Living in a family full of teachers, reading was simply a part of her life.
She and her father even talked of someday owning a bookstore, but he died in September 2009.
Maples left her position with the Chamber this past April after 2½ years as executive director, returning to her home state of California for six months to handle family issues.
Then Maples heard McAllister Wolf was trying to sell Pacific Mist.
“It affords me an opportunity to live in Sequim,” Maples says. “It’s a great location. Marti built a great customer base.”
McAllister Wolf says she’s not moving from Sequim. In fact, those about town may notice her more now that she’s not behind the counter at Pacific Mist Books. She says she’s getting involved with such groups as Olympic Theatre Arts and Readers Theatre Plus.
And, she adds, she hopes to find a good hiking club and maybe even do some whitewater rafting.
“I want to learn to play again,” McAllister Wolf says.
She notes she hasn’t had a vacation in 3½ years.
The book aficionado, who reads 150 books per year or so, says she will miss those regular customers she’s come to know so well.
“I’ll miss the people,” she says. “Seventy-five percent of my social life is here.”
McAllister Wolf worked in the insurance industry for years, in Michigan and Nevada, Washington and Minnesota.
Upon her return to Washington, she decided she wanted to buy a bookstore. Her requirements: that it be in a small town near water, with an educated community.
Sequim fit the bill.
“I always wanted to work in one (and own one). I couldn’t afford it — I was raising a family.”
Nearly two decades later, McAllister Wolf is saying goodbye to Pacific Mist. Well, kind of. She’s agreed to help Maples out by filling in when the store’s new owner needs a break or to leave town.
But McAllister Wolf says she was ready to hand over the business when it came to revamping the bookstore’s line of products that cater to the digital generation.
“It’s tough, no doubt about it; online has always been a factor,” McAllister Wolf says. (Vickie) is going to have to bring in some non-book items. (But) she’s more tech-savvy than I am.”
Friends plan to honor McAllister Wolf with a party on Saturday, Nov. 5.
Pacific Mist Books joins First Friday Art Walk
Pacific Mist Books, 121 W. Washington St., announced this week it will host local historian and humorist Doug McInnes as the business’ featured author for First Friday on Nov. 4.
McInnes was born in Sequim in 1929, but says he takes no blame for the stock market crash that occurred a few weeks later. He is part of a pioneer family that arrived about 1860.
McInnes was raised on a farm and graduated from Sequim High School and the University of Washington. He married a farm girl, Bonnie Robb, whose family farm was situated where the Sequim Walmart is today. They have three children: Steven, Barbara and David.
Most of McInnes’ career was in personnel management for Boeing and ITT Rayonier in Port Angeles.
His main hobby of the last 30 years has been writing local history and humor.
McInnes will read from his books “Sequim Yesterday” and “My Uncles and Other Related Tall Tales.”
Readings by McInnes are scheduled at 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., followed by special in-store drawings.
Winter refreshments created by Cameron’s Café & Catering will be served.
Call Pacific Mist Books at 683-1396.
Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.
