Bookstore owners celebrates 40 years

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

Harry Dearth sits on a cushioned stool in his Gig Harbor waterfront bookstore, surrounded by his passion. Stacks of books line the shelves from floor to ceiling: biographies, travel books, children’s books and cook books.

The store, “No Dearth of Books,” is celebrating its 40th anniversary in the harbor. Dearth sells used and out-of-print books for about half the price of new.

He has a sizable collection of nautical and Northwest history books, military history, biographies, general history, pet books and paperback mysteries.

Dearth also carries a heavy selection of classic literature. One particular prize is a copy of “The Downing Street Years,” written and autographed by Margaret Thatcher.

“I have biographies from Marian Anderson to Zumwalt,” he said. “The only thing I don’t have is sci-fi, romance and art, which calls for more space than I have.”

Harry and his wife Shirley moved to Gig Harbor in 1969. The couple opened their bookstore when they realized their enormous book collection would be a problem in their smaller home.

They opened up “Mostly Books” in the harbor and ran it for 29 years before they sold it to Jo Graffey.

“She didn’t want to do used books, so I brought them over here,” Dearth said. “Used books are a whole different business. It’s a potpourri of things.”

Dearth had no problem coming up with a name for his new store.

“It was a natural,” he said. “I had no shortage of books.”

Dearth runs the store himself, with occasional help from his wife.

And like many harbor businesses, he said he’s feeling the pinch of the economy. He’s also dealing with a raise in rent at his location tucked inside the shopping area next to El Pueblito Mexican restaurant.

Dearth said customers would have a pleasant surprise if they come into the store and see the selection of books and prices. He invites people to come in and browse, even if they don’t buy anything.

“Business is slow, like the rest of the harbor,” he said. “I’m definitely hidden away here. There are a lot of people who enjoy it once they find it. I have people come in that said they had a hard time finding the front door.”

Dearth thumbs through a guest log of visitors from as far away as Alaska, Calgary, Nova Scotia, Scotland and Switzerland.

“It’s nice meeting these people. It’s part of the fun,” he said. “I think the farthest one came from Johannesburg, South Africa.”

Dearth’s store has outlasted seven other bookstores in the harbor. And he hopes his unique book selection will carry him through the tough economic times.

No Dearth of Books

No Dearth of Books has used and out-of-print books — and it has books that are about half the price as new books.

The bookstore is located at 3226 Harborview Drive in Gig Harbor, next to El Pueblito restaurant.

For more information, call 253-853-3355.