The Maine Coast Book Shop marks its 50th year in business in 2014, according to owner Susan Porter.
Porter has worked in the Damariscotta store for the past 42 years. Porter credits her staff for the success of the shop and for receiving a recent Down East magazine Readers’ Choice award for best book store.
“It came as a real surprise and a nice surprise,” Porter said. “Especially since it’s our 50th anniversary.”
“We have the best book store staff in the entire state,” Porter said. “They’re knowledgeable, helpful, cheerful, and go out of their way to help customers and know what they read and what books to recommend.”
Another factor in the shop’s continued success is the inventory offered, according to Porter.
“Our selection of books for a store our size is incredible,” Porter said. “We know how to pick out what we consider to be really good books. We try to get the best in every category.”
One category that was recently enlarged and moved to the front of the shop is the children’s section. Porter said staff member Lauri Campbell is the buyer for this section.
“Lauri knows those books so well,” Porter said. “We have an unusual variety of really good books in the children’s department.”
Porter said the book shop staff will special order any book. “If we don’t have it, we will get it,” she said. Out-of-print books are one of the shop’s specialties. According to Porter, staff member Kathleen Creamer will find what customers are seeking.
In addition to books, the shop carries sideline merchandise with a literary theme, such as coffee mugs, stationery, T-shirts, and even socks.
A café adjoins the book shop and serves coffee and espresso drinks, as well as sandwiches, pastries, and gelato. “The café has been a really good adjunct to the book shop,” Porter said.
Porter said the book shop also hosts “incredible events.” Since appointing staff member Nicole Olivier to full-time events coordinator, publishers are really paying attention, she said.
“Usually they don’t send their important writers to Maine this far up past Portland,” Porter said. “Nicole has done such a great job that now we’re being noticed and we’re getting some really great authors.”
