Eugene’s iconic Tsunami Books has occupied its present constructing on Willamette Road for 30 years. Now, its basic supervisor says it’s time to personal, not lease.
Lengthy a venue for books, concert events, performs, lectures and easily milling about, Tsunami Books is positioned inside a concrete brick and picket construction inbuilt 1949.
Scott Landfield, the shop’s basic supervisor, informed KLCC that the month-to-month lease is about $8,500. They’ll launch a GoFundMe drive on Might 1.
“We do have good constructing homeowners,” mentioned Landfield. “The constructing itself was not on the market, however once we approached them with a suggestion to purchase it, they had been very constructive and I really feel like we’ll have a superb time figuring out a correct deal.”
The instant objective is to hit $200,000 in two months. The fundraising will have interaction donors from past the bookstore’s South Eugene neighborhood.
“We’d prefer to all the things accomplished by November, though if it drips into 2027 that’d be alright,” added Landfield. “Ideally by importing $5 at a time from each guide lover in America.”
Landfield says in late February when American bombs and missiles started hitting Iran, together with a college the place 168 college students had been killed, he “fell aside mentally.” Maintaining appearances for patrons throughout a time of conflict and unrest wore him down. Now he’d prefer to have a “win” for the neighborhood and mentioned in the event that they reach shopping for the constructing, staff can be homeowners.
As for the state of the constructing, Landfield says they’ve accomplished reworking through the years together with an improved parking zone and a brand new roof. He’s significantly pleased with the repurposed supplies, which incorporates cabinets comprised of the bleachers of “30 colleges or universities” within the space, and a stage flooring product of wooden from the Amazon jungle.
“We had certainly one of Brazil’s best guitarists right here,” recalled Landfield. “Once I informed them that, he gave one of many best performances of his life.”
Landfield says on the whole, folks “placed on their greatest hats” after they come into Tsunami Books. He says being an informed, mild, progressive crowd, “they’re appreciative of what we have now.”
Copyright 2026, KLCC.
