Turning a page on business

Maurice and Paulette Breault thought they were onto the epilogue of their working lives when they walked into the Mad Hatter bookstore 11 years ago.

They had retired from careers in teaching and were turning their minds to their golf swings.

"Then I walked in and saw (the previous owner) sitting here, head in a book, and thought ’that looks good,'” Maurice said.

And, just like that, the Breaults started a fresh chapter that’s brought a decade of more work and adventure on and off the page. Now, however, they're ready to say goodbye.

The Mad Hatter Bookstore in West Kelowna is 41 years old and now up for sale.

It's tucked into the city’s downtown. It's not the easiest place to find but those who love a good read, know exactly where it is, both in its brick and mortar form and online.

Paulette said new customers find their way to their shop from points across the valley, and always find something to delight in.

"Business has grown," she said.

Maurice said that there's an abundance of selection, luring readers through their doors.

“We have 20,000 books in store,” he said, adding there’s more in his archives. Another 19,400 that exist online at the moment.

The real treasures aren’t the old Archies or John Grishams, though everything has it’s place.

It's the more rare and unusual finds. They’ve gone to UBC archives, the Sothebys Auction and other collectors around the world.

One of this most precious finds passed passed through his hands two years ago.

“It was a book written in Austria about de-evolution,” Maurice said. “It sold for $12,000 to a bookstore in Manhattan."

In store on Thursday, he had a book about the Doukhorbors brought in.

“There’s only one other online and it’s listed for $200 US,” he said.

He’s planning to put it onto his online store for $99, with $20 for shipping.

It’s been a surprisingly busy and joy-filled part of his life.

“The customers have been like family to me and my wife,” he said.

Now it’s time to move on with health concerns moving to the forefront.

Anyone interested in buying the shop and starting their own literary adventure can reach out to the Breaults at moebro@telus.net.