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To no surprise, the new owner of Pamlico Books, Lindsay Hall, has an affinity for books. She loves to read them, read about them, and recommend her favorites to others.

Hall is a third grade teacher at Chocowinity Primary, and her husband Jason, owns and operates Washington Crab. Never once had she even considered the idea of owning her own bookstore. But that all changed this summer when she saw it was up for sale.

“My family and I moved here four years ago, and I remember seeing the initial post that Tom and Deb Ryan were opening Pamlico Books,” said Hall.“I thought that was so amazing and something that Washington had been missing. It also meant no more trips to Barnes and Noble in Greenville or ordering online through Amazon. My family became immediate patrons since the day it opened. When I saw that it was for sale I felt sad to see Tom go because he had done such a good job. But, it just happened to be one of those happy surprises that falls into your lap, and that is when I decided to throw my hat into the ring. My husband and I met with Tom and Deb, and he and I agreed it would be a great opportunity for me. It fits all of the things I would like to do in a bookstore, and it just seemed like a great opportunity.”

Hall said she can’t thank Tom enough for his help throughout the process, and for making the transition as smooth as possible. “It has been really exciting to be in the bookstore with Tom the last several weeks and learning under him,” said Hall. “He has been so great at quickly getting me up to speed to take over the business. And my husband’s business background and support has been nothing but a bonus.”

Hall said there are no plans for any big changes, but she has some ideas on how to add her personal touch here and there. “I really love what the Ryans have done with the bookstore, so why try and fix it if it isn’t broke,” said Hall. “I have some new ideas that I’m exploring, but things will remain pretty much as they are, offering a little of everything for everyone.”

With her teaching commitment for the next year, Hall will enlist the help of her mother with the daily operation of the bookstore. “She will be working there along with one of her friends during the week,” said Hall. “I will be there on the weekends and in the evenings as much as I can, so I can meet with our customers. The plan then is for me to transition into it full-time by the end of the current school year. Simply put, it is going to be a very busy year. But thanks to my mother and her friend, and my husband, it should prove to be a very smooth transition.”

The last day of ownership under the Ryans will be Saturday, Sept. 21; the sale closing will be on Oct. 1. Hall intends to have a soft opening that first week, with a grand reopening scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. “I’m so excited about all of this,” said Hall. “I still have days when I can’t believe I can say I own my own bookstore, so I have to give myself a pinch. I really love this community,” she added with a huge smile of appreciation.