Martha’s Bookstore: Balboa Island, CA
Ellen Bell on Nov 16 2011 at 11:58 pm | Filed under: Day Trips, Southern California
What would you do if you won the lottery?
Open a bookstore? Perhaps.
Kathy Wales and her sister, Stephanie Thomas, didn’t have that elusive lottery ticket, but they have lived their lives as if they did.
The two sisters from Kansas City followed their dreams 22 years ago- quite literally.
As Kathy tells the story: “We were riding our bikes on the peninsula when I told Stephanie, ‘I had a dream last night that we opened a bookstore.’”
Moments later, Stephanie shared that she’d had the identical dream that same night.
Together, the sisters mustered their financial resources, their mutual spirit of adventure, and set out to live their “lottery ticket” life. They opened Martha’s Bookstore, named for their mother who was an accomplished writer.
Every day since then, Wales and Thomas have unlocked the front door of their quaint and cozy shop, filled with best-sellers and Balboa Island collectibles.
Over the years, the sisters have become valuable members of the small business community on Balboa Island. Their commitment to all things local can be seen in their extensive collection of local history books.
“We’ve found books that are no longer in print and have them available for sale,” Wales explains. “You can’t find these books anywhere else.”
Book lovers who venture down the little pathway to Martha’s Bookstore will be welcomed by the sisters who treat shoppers like guests in their home.
“Would you like a cup of tea or some Chardonnay while you browse for books?” they offer happily.
After all, it’s easy to be happy when your dreams come true.
Martha’s Bookstore
308 1/2 Marine Avenue Balboa Island, CA 92662 (949) 673-7185
[...] a part in my latest novel Letters on Balboa Island. In fact, look for an appearance of this book in Martha’s Bookstore. You must read the story of how this bookstore came to be. How perfect it would be to have my novel [...]
[...] a part in my latest novel Letters on Balboa Island. In fact, look for an appearance of this book in Martha’s Bookstore this spring/summer. You must read the story of how this bookstore came to be. How perfect it would [...]