Chapter One celebrates its birthday on April Fool's Day, 1974--by coincidence, the same day that Changing Hands Book Store in Tempe, AZ, celebrates its birthday. An auspicious day, no doubt! In fact, we're no longer sure when the doors first opened--we had a note in a drawer when we bought the store in 1986, handwritten by Peggy Tonon listing the date of opening, which to the best of anyone's recollection was late March of 1974. The note also specified the first book sold--"Fate Is The Hunter," by Ernest K. Gann. Alas, that note has disappeared, so I'm recording these facts here for posterity. If someone pulls this blog out of a file, virtual or otherwise, in 2044, I'll personally by you a copy of any book you want!
This year we'll celebrate with a 4-day sale, a way to say "thanks" to all our customers for the years of pleasure we've enjoyed amongst the books at Chapter One. It seems like far too small a gesture--we never, ever, in our wildest imagination, thought the future would look like this, or that the journey to this point would be so fulfilling. Still, in times of shared economic hardship, passing around some savings seems like a reasonable gift to the community, so I hope you'll take advantage.
So--thanks, Bitterrooters, for making our days so meaningful and pleasant. . . and may yours be the same!
Russ Lawrence--co-owner of Chapter One Book Store since 1986
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My grandmother bought me a copy of "The Little Broomstick," by Mary Stewart from your shop in June of 1974- it was a birthday gift. I still have my copy. So hopefully that helps with the founding date! Also, I worked at Changing Hands for a while after college. Both are very special places :)
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