Wall Street Books secures new building; owners opening Canton location

Jan. 22—Two months ago, Wall Street Books owners Greg and Bonnie Owens didn't know what the future held for them.

Faced with a sudden lease termination at their location at 181 Wall Street, which has housed Wall Street Books for 27 years and the Owens for 7 years, the couple felt overwhelmed.

"We have a huge sentimental tie to this place," Bonnie Owens said.

Both the Owens' have fond memories of Wall Street Books from before they took over. They were avid shoppers themselves, going there with their kids in tow to avoid big box bookstores. As a teacher, Greg Owens frequented the bookstore himself to stock his classroom shelves at Waynesville Middle School.

It's bittersweet, but the search is over. The Owens found one of the most convenient places of all, short of staying in their current building. The new Wall Street Books location will be where Cat in the Attic Antiques used to be, at 163 Wall Street. It will allow them to keep their name and make moving slightly less of a burden.

"We see a lot of longevity in this new space," said Greg Owens.

It will give the Owens' an extra 1000 square feet of space to spread out and hopefully host more events down the line.

"The larger space will be nothing but beneficial," Greg Owens said.

Securing not only a downtown location, but a location on Wall Street is something the Owens weren't even sure would be possible. With downtown rent going up, finding a spot to hold Wall Street Books was a bit of a challenge.

"We really wanted to stay in Waynesville," Greg Owens said. "We have great local support, and support from tourists and people who make us part of their yearly vacation."

And that support was clear as soon as the Owens announced they were looking for a new space. The community showed up in droves, offering to help them secure a new location and pack and move the some-2,500 boxes of books they expect to have.

A unique identity

Despite the move to a larger space, the Owens hope to retain all of what makes Wall Street Book so unique — especially the "scavenger" aspect of looking through stacks of books.

After all, part of the allure of Wall Street Books and other small, independent bookstores is a sense of adventure and not knowing what you might stumble upon.

At Wall Street Books, there's also no computer or digital log of what's in stock, which means the Owens can be found rifling through the shelves alongside customers, looking for a certain book.

Bonnie jokes that the response to: "Did you find everything you were looking for?" is often: "I found more than I needed."

When they bought the store, the Owens' were handed a set of keys, cash box and a rolodex containing all the trade in credit information. Since then, they've added a credit card system, but the identity is fundamentally the same.

And business has proven to be successful over the years. Bonnie Owens said the pandemic was one of their best years yet, because books bring people comfort. And perhaps, the best is even yet to come.

Once in a blue moon

While securing a new spot to move to in less than two short months, the Owens also had something else up their sleeve: opening a brand new Canton bookstore.

Greg Owens said he and his wife tossed the plans around for a while, and the right opportunity never came up.

"We've been scouring for three years," Greg Owns said.

They never expected to find the perfect spot during the midst of planning an unexpected move for Wall Street Books, but one day Bonnie Owens received a fateful text. One of her friends mentioned a space for rent in downtown Canton, in the old Hazelwood Soap Company spot.

The Owens visited the building and put down a deposit the next day. It was perfect.

They decided to call the new store Blue Moon, because "Something like this only comes along once in a blue moon."

It's a fitting name in other ways, too. Given the demographics of Canton — younger families with children, fewer tourists — the Owens' plan to have a store focused more on kids and families fits right in.

And they're clear. It's not just a second Wall Street Books location, though they will carry used books.

"It will have its own identity and own look," Greg Owens said. "It's more open. It has a totally different feel."

And the move is good for Canton, too, as the town is growing and attracting more young families.

"In so many ways, this is a tremendous opportunity for Canton," Canton mayor Zeb Smathers said. "Not only is an empty storefront being filled by a small business, but Wall Street Books has been successful in Waynesville."

Blue Moon is slated to open in early February, the Owens said.

Despite the at-times tumultuous past couple months, the Owens are looking on the bright side — there's a lot to be excited for, and they know the community is here to help.

"Really if this hadn't happened, we wouldn't have known the level of support [we have]," Bonnie Owens said.