A new bookshop curated for Dayton

DAYTON-Dayton Books and Gifts at 232 East Main Street is now open for business. 

Owners Rose and Clay Johnson, along with their two daughters, Lily, 18, and Addison, 12, recently moved to Dayton from Albuquerque, New Mexico, seeking a change from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Rose said she is excited to be in Dayton and that the girls are adjusting well to life in a small town.

"Here, the girls can walk around unattended and experience the freedom and independence that was not available to them in Albuquerque. They love that there are deer in the yard," she said.

Johnson was the Director of Clinical Operations for a medical group at the University of New Mexico when the couple decided to make a big life change.  Clay was, and still is, a territory manager for Serta Simmons.

She said they first considered opening a business in Port Townsend or Port Angeles when he mentioned a listing for a building on Dayton's Main Street.

"I told him I don't want to live in Ohio," she said with a laugh.

They became interested in the historic nature of this community and of the building they now occupy after a visit to Dayton in June of last year.

"The building was so cool, the brick and wood," she explained.

Having family close by in Spokane helped seal the deal, she said.

Why a bookstore? 

Johnson said, "I love books. When I'm traveling, I look for a bookstore... I just think people gravitate to bookstores."

It's not just about books for the Johnsons. 

The store also offers handcrafted teas inspired by book genres. For instance, the film noir category is represented by Pu-erh, a darker-flavored tea with notes of allspice, cinnamon, and chili. Johnson said to imagine a gumshoe out on a stakeout. 

Unique handcrafted lollipops, including a cornbread-and-peach-preserve-flavored pop, are among the tasty treats, along with biscotti and chocolate. 

The store also features a large selection of book-themed puzzles and other "quirky and interesting" gifts, as well as locally made items, like Lois Hemphill's handmade cards. 

Johnson said customers can get discounts on used books through a book trade program.

"When people donate books to the store, they earn store credit, which can be used for the next purchase, for up to fifty percent off. So, a ten-dollar book can be purchased for five dollars. In that way, the inventory will remain fresh," she said.

Roughly ninety percent of the book inventory is used, and the remaining ten percent is new.

Johnson said she will include any title a customer requests with the store's orders.

Dayton Books and Gifts is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday. The grand opening is on Saturday, September 5, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.