Visibility has not always been the best selling point for the Stonehouse Bookstore in Kirkland’s Houghton neighborhood.
When it opened in its original location in Redmond, it was the only one of its kind on the Eastside and grew by word of mouth. Now, hidden in the back of the Houghton shopping area, across from PCC Market, visibility continues to be an issue. But for owners Paul Martin and Sandi Grumman, being able to see the entire picture is what has kept the couple’s business going for 25 years.
“We support people’s spiritual paths no matter what they do,” said Martin. “Most of our books are not religious but spiritual.”
But the store is a lot more than just books. The store offers counseling, 12-step programs, jewelry and incense candles among other things.
“We started out with mostly books but we found that customers were looking for other things,” said Grumman.
Stonehouse caters to all religions and the discovery of new paths. But Martin and Grumman are now attempting to find a new path as the book store will close its doors this summer.
In a letter to loyal patrons, the couple said, “We founded the Stonehouse 25 years ago and have been greatly blessed by you who have walked through our doors. It has been an incredible, rich, and heart-warming journey, and now it is time for us to move on. This, as you may guess, is not an easy decision for us and has required a process of long and deep soul-searching. Now, barring some unforeseen financial miracle, we will be closing within a matter of months.”
The store has been struggling and the weight of donating more and more time to the non-profit business has been difficult.
“It is a labor of love,” said Grumman.
The rise of the internet has pushed the non-profit from unique to obsolete.
“Our sales have gone down,” said Martin. “We are selling one-quarter what we used to.”
A loyal customer base has kept the store going, despite not having the greatest location.
“Neither one of us is very business minded,” said Martin.
The store was the first of its kind on the Eastside but the search for spirituality has become big business.
“There are almost as many yoga studios as coffee houses now,” said Grumman.
The book store has moved a total of five times during the past 25 years, including a location on Rose Hill. It got its name from the historic Stonehouse building in Redmond where it got its start. And the book store has been on the verge of closing before.
“We used to get donations to keep things going,” said Martin, who is a minister and runs a retreat.
Microsoft Corp. even stepped in one year to match a grant that the store received and saved Stonehouse from closing.
“We are open to someone buying the business cause we just don’t have time to put into it,” said Martin about the non-profit.
The couple runs a retreat called Mosswood Hollow, in Duvall, where they host workshops, seminars, weddings and other events. Martin is also a reverend at the Swedenborgian Church of Puget Sound in Redmond. He describes the 200-year-old religion as “mystical Christianity.”
“We believe that you don’t go to heaven cause you go to church or read a book,” said Martin. “You go to heaven cause you lead a good life.”
Leading a good life for Martin and Grumman has meant helping people. The couple counsels people and Martin performs weddings and funerals.
“We facilitate the spirituality and health of those that come in,” said Martin.
And that good will has been felt in return since the announcement of the store’s closing.
“Many people have been commenting on how much Stonehouse has meant to them,” said Martin. “People tell us how much it has helped with a divorce or the death of a child. It has been a very rich experience. We have a lot of loyal customers.”
Martin plans to do some open houses at Mosswood Hallow for his loyal customers to stay in touch.
“We just want to thank them for 25 years,” said Martin, whose store is currently having a closing sale.
“We just feel very blessed for this experience,” said Grumman. “It has been a very important part of our lives.”
More information
Stonehouse Bookstore is located at Houghton Village, 10600 N.E. 68th St., Kirkland. Everything in the store is 20-70 percent off. For information, call 425-889-5106.
