St. Helens Book Shop to Get New Owner

Luanne Kreutzer, the owner of the St. Helens Book Shop in St. Helens, Oregon, for the past 17 years, has announced the sale of the business to Lori Cardiff, effective April 27, 2009. Cardiff has been an employee of the bookstore for several years.

Kreutzer placed the bookstore up for sale last year due to changing family obligations. "I'm so pleased that Lori decided to take on the business, as are all the store's booksellers," Kreutzer said in a statement. "She has the energy, passion, and ideas to keep the bookstore thriving and strong into the future. Her broad experience and interest in our community will be true assets to the bookstore."

Cardiff said, "I look forward to continuing in Luanne's footsteps serving the community. For me, being an independent bookseller is about remembering the joy that reading has always been for me and sharing that excitement with others. And it is about making the connection between people and books."

The St. Helens Book Shop, which has been a part of the community in Oregon's Columbia County for more than 20 years, will move from its current location, south of St. Helens, to Columbia Boulevard in St. Helens, on July 1. Cardiff plans to expand the children's books and toys section while still maintaining strong adult fiction and nonfiction sections in the new space, which also provides more room for author events, storytimes, and browsing.

Kreutzer, whose husband is retiring this summer after 30 years as a firefighter, isn't giving up bookselling entirely. Although she'll be spending more time with family and some time traveling, Kreutzer also plans to work part-time at St. Helens Book Shop.

In addition to having years of experience in bookselling and other retail, Cardiff has worked as a teacher, a nonprofit development manager, and a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa. She was also recently appointed to the St. Helens Public Library Board.