SEQUIM — Vicky Maples has turned to a new page in her business career, from former Chamber of Commerce director to book store owner.

Maples, who ran the Sequim-Dungeness Valley chamber for more than two years, resigning in April for family reasons, bought Pacific Mist Books, 121 W. Washington St., from Marti McAllister Wolf, effective Nov. 1.

McAllister Wolf wanted to retire after 18 years at the same location, and her friend, Maples, was interested.

‘Opportunity was there’

“The short story was the opportunity was there,” Maples said, and it prevented the 1,000-square-foot shop with 1,500 book titles from closing.

McAllister Wolf said she and Maples had talked about it since summer but rushed the deal to a close over the past three weeks.

“It’s time to retire. I’m looking for a new adventure,” McAllister Wolf said.

“I’ve been working six days a week for 18 years.”

McAllister Wolf will stay in Sequim and continue on as an Olympic Theatre Arts actress, as well as with Readers Theatre Plus, and plans to join a hiking club to get outdoors more.

McAllister Wolf is helping Maples transition into the role of new bookstore owner and will return to work there when Maples needs to visit family.

Health, business issues

Maples reluctantly resigned from the chamber to attend to out-of-state family health and business commitments and responsibilities in California.

Those issues have been resolved, she said, allowing her to return to her home in Sequim.

The chamber board hired Maples — a former community and economic development manager who had worked in Delano and Porterville, Calif. — in late July 2008.

Maples grandparents’ family farm used to be where Walmart is today off Washington Street and Priest Road.

Maples said she would like to focus on promoting local authors, add more gifts to the inventory and market the business online with a website and Facebook page.

Local historian Doug McInnes, author of Sequim Yesterday: Local History Through the Eyes of Sequim Old-Timers, was featured at the November First Friday.

Sequim artist Jean Wyatt will be featured at Pacific Mist during the First Friday Art Walk in December.

Maples said she will continue to offer what McAllister Wolf gave customers, including special-ordering of books and selling tickets to local events.

Of course, she is already a chamber member.

The store’s hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

For more information, phone 360-683-1396.

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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.