Severely Damaged Flintridge Bookstore Bolstered by Community Support

Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse in La Canada, California, has been operating out of its back office since an out-of-control 18-wheeler barreled through a nearby intersection and into the store on April 1. In about 10 days, however, the bookstore, which has experienced a strong show of community support, will move to a trailer in the shopping center parking lot.

"We do a few sales everyday," said owner Peter Wannier. "It's quite a blessing. We just want people to know that we're here and open." The bookstore is doing special orders and customers can buy books from the back office. Staff will find the requested book in the store if available; customers cannot enter the store and browse.

Wannier reported that they're slowly digging through the debris created by the 80-foot semi that demolished a swath of the bookstore about 20-feet wide and 100-feet long. "It just totaled everything in its path," he said. "We've gotten the building debris and the hazardous materials on the floor cleared out. Now we're doing book triage.

"We've got three categories of books. Ones that go into the Dumpster, ones that are salvageable as new, and ones that are salvageable as used." The 100-year-old building is restorable, and Wannier plans to reopen in the same location in about three to four months.

In the past two weeks, Wannier and staff have seen a generous show of community support. "It's been incredible. We've had literally dozens and dozens of offers of help. People want to help in whatever way they can. And not just customers, other businesses, and bookstores from as far away as Vermont."

La Canada Flintridge officials have wrangled with California Department of Transportation since a similar accident took place in September. At that time no one was killed. In the April 1 accident, two motorists were killed and a dozen people were injured. No one in the bookstore was harmed. "The city tried to get big rigs off the highway, and warned that something like this would happen again," said Wannier. "Maybe now they'll do something."

The driver of the truck has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter, according to Pasadena Star-News.--Karen Schechner