potrero view

June 2009

An Independent Book Store

By Anthony Myers

Potrero Hill stalwart Christopher’s Books held a Pick the Pulitzer Winner contest party on the day the prize winners were announced.  Curious neighbors filtered in, bringing their dogs, kids and snacks to celebrate the coveted award and one of the City’s remaining independent book stores. At stake for the individual who correctly guessed the winner was a Christopher’s Books gift certificate.  Toni Morrison’s Mercy and Richard Price’s Lush Life received the attendees’ votes.  But, as is now known, Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge won the Pulitzer.  According to Tee Minot, Christopher’s Books’ owner, “It would have been nice to have a big winner, but it was just as much fun to be completely taken by surprise by the announcement of this year’s winner.”

Ed Rudolph and his dog Buckley attended the party.  Rudolph, a Texas Street resident, has lived on the Hill for 35 years, and regularly shops at Christopher’s even though he can get cheaper books on-line. “It’s making sure you have a community that’s livable,” Rudolph said, of his purchasing decisions.

Minot has been working against the online tide since the store opened in 1991. “I know people have a choice, and that it really means something when they come in and make a commitment to participate in the local economy,” Minot said.  Minot – who lives with her partner Lynn and two sons, Nicolas, nine, and Joseph, four – credits her love of books and her neighbors for the store’s staying power. “I don’t take it for granted. I enjoy getting to know people. I appreciate the social relationships that I’ve developed over the last 20 years,” she said.

One of those relationships is with Potrero Hill Archive Project director Peter Linenthal, who lives above the store. Minot proudly displays some of the Archives’ photographs above her bookshelves. “What’s not to like about having a bookstore downstairs?” Linenthal said. “She’s very community oriented.  They have a program where local school kids pick out what books they want and people can buy the book for them.”

Minot became the book store’s sole proprietor in 1996, after two successful partnerships, the first with the store’s originator, Christopher Ellison.  Ellison, who no longer lives in the neighborhood, was a venture capitalist before being involved in a horrific car accident, which prompted him to change his life.  “Chris is just a very interesting, smart innovative guy,” Minot said. “He was used to helping open small businesses, or providing capital to businesses starting. He wanted to change the direction of his life after this accident. He and his wife thought about what business they could start in the neighborhood they lived in. They both loved books and so they thought, why not a book store?”

When Christopher’s opened, Minot was working at Cover to Cover on 24th Street. She used to hang out at Just for You, which, before moving to Dogpatch, was located on 18th Street diagonally across from Ellison’s book shop. Before long the two became friends. “We just really connected; I really, really enjoyed talking with him. He was a great conversationalist,” Minot said.  

About nine months into their friendship Ellison asked Minot to become a partner in the book store.  “In May 1992, I became a partner and we were open 10 hours a day, every day.  We worked it out so that we had to work six months out of the year and so if one of us wanted to go to New Zealand for a month you could do it,” Minot said. “I haven’t really taken a break since then.”

The store hasn’t changed much since it first opened. “We order books and sell books. We are a fixture in the community,” Minot said. “We have strong literary and history sections. We have one of the best kids sections in the Bay Area, from picture books to young adult literature. We try to have an eclectic mix. It’s not so much what you get in season after season. It’s what you keep, it’s what you restock.”

Minot strives to create a comfortable place for people to come in and browse, and discover that book they weren’t expecting to find. Christopher’s does a lot of special orders, and the turn around time is good, according to Minot. The store’s homey feel and superlative customer service have kept it profitable.  “As long as the store can survive on its own, I would say we’re in the black. I have a great landlord who’s been very supportive. I try to keep my costs down; no fancy business cards or expensive bookmarks,” Minot said.

To add to book sale revenues, Minot and her employees offer handmade tchotchkies and domestically made toys. As for Christopher, “he still works at the store part time whenever he can,” Minot said.

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