Christine Tanner, who helped turn Sidney into a literary destination as Book Town, says she’s closing her last bookstore in the seaside town by the end of the month.
Tanner is closing Beacon Books after selling her collection of rare, first edition and other hard-to-find tomes to a company based in Creston, though she did not reveal who bought the entire inventory of more than 10,000 books as well as shelving, chairs and antique fixtures.
Christine and her husband, Clive Tanner, who passed away in September 2022 at age 90, were the driving force in creating Sidney’s Book Town reputation, owning and operating a half-dozen stores over a 40-year period, specializing in everything from military and first editions to paperbacks, and new and used.
The Tanners had moved to Sidney from Whitehorse in 1982, and bought the Star Weekly store. They soon bought the toy store next door and the fish and chip shop at the back, and expanded it to become Tanner’s Books.
After visiting Hay-on-Wye in Wales — home to several bookstores and a popular literary festival — they were inspired to make Sidney a bookstore hub.
The Tanners opened Beacon Books in 1993, specializing in rare and first-edition books. Others followed including Christine’s Paperback Writer store.
In 2001, Clive and Christine sold Tan ner’s to Cliff McNeil-Smith, who still owns it today.
“Clive and Christine were visionary in seeing the potential to create Sidney Book Town,” said McNeil-Smith. “They attracted other owners, including myself, and at its peak, there were 10 bookstores in Sidney.”
McNeil-Smith said Christine’s retirement brings “an end to an era for the Tanners in Sidney,” but their legacy lives on with their first store, Tanner’s, along with two other longstanding stores, The Haunted Bookshop and Galleon Books and Antiques.
“While it’s not the Book Town it once was, I think the larger community and visitors still see Sidney as a book destination,” said McNeil-Smith. “And people will long remember Clive and Christine Tanner for what they accomplished.”
Kathy Speight, a customer for two decades, joined Christine’s staff at Beacon Books two years ago. She said Beacon Books was a hub for residents and visitors alike to browse and discover hard-to-find gems.
“It’s always been a great place for finding really good books,” said Speight. “And working here was so fun because I’m surrounded by my favourite things. I’m very sad it’s closing.”
Customers who entered through a bright-red split Dutch door — usually open in the warmer months — found a comfortable 4,000-square-foot carpeted realm lined with bookshelves.
They could find a chair to sit and read if they wished, which often happened in front of a small warm fireplace.
Christine said sometimes people would nod off with a book.
“We never asked them to leave,” she said with a smile. “We let them take their time and enjoy what they were reading. The next week, they would come in and buy three or four books. I always felt good that people felt comfortable here.”
Christine said while online ordering has hurt local booksellers, specializing in harder-to-find books still makes stores like hers a going concern.
She said Sidney remains a good market for books because it has a mature, retired population and also benefits from tourism and its reputation as Book Town.
As she heads into retirement, Christine said she’s taking many good memories and no regrets.
“I think the most satisfying thing, for me, was to see the expression on someone’s face when they finally found a book they’ve been looking for after four or five years of searching,” she said. “And also to see children and younger people get excited about the written word, especially with all the [distractions] they have.”
With her last bookstore closing, the 86-year-old grandmother of 10 is ready to start her next chapter, including writing her own, long-awaited book.
“It will be something about books and bookstores … we’ll see,” she said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and here’s my chance.”
