Short Summary

The purpose of this Indiegogo campaign is to pay off the rest of Tsunami’s debt to the Community, so that we can begin the process of securing another 20+ years at our present location, which may include purchase of the property.

In 2015 the owners of the building Tsunami Books had rented for 20 years changed hands. In 2018 the Bookstore was required to raise $302,000 for an escrow account in order to sign a new (5+5) lease at a much higher rent. We were successful, using our own unique form of crowdfunding and the generosity of over 600 members of the Community, which included approx. $220,000 that needed to be paid back. Of that, $47,625 still needs to be repaid to 43 people. 100% of all money raised here will go into a dedicated account at OCCU, 70% of which will go toward repayment to our friends, including future royalties due to author Ken Babbs, and 30% to cover the taxes. Our goal is to raise $75,000.

This is a “quid-pro-quo” Indiegogo crowdfunding, utilizing our backstock of books (3,200) that we have remaining from the publishing of our first two books (total print-run 10,800) as Tsunami Press. For every $20 we are offering one copy of either “Cronies: Adventures with Ken Kesey, Neal Cassady, the Merry Pranksters and the Grateful Dead,” Ken Babbs’ wondrous remembrance (hardcover); or “Bookstore Clerks and Significant Others: Tsunami Press #1,” our first in a series of anthologies (paperback), which received a much respected “Starred Review” by Kirkus Reviews.

We are also offering Gift Certificates, which can be used for all items purchased at Tsunami, including any ticketed events at the Bookstore.

 We’ll also be adding special items throughout the campaign — book bags, artwork, memorabilia, rare books — that can be acquired exclusively through this Indiegogo campaign.

The Impact

WHAT IS TSUNAMI BOOKS?  Tsunami Books Inc is an Independent Working-Class Bookstore featuring used, new and remaindered books for the progressive mind. We have hosted well over 4,500 Community Activities and Events, including some of the best small-venue music in the world.  The store has been at the same location (a 4400sf single-story building on Willamette Street in beautiful South Eugene) since it opened 28+ years ago.  Tsunami was built by co-owners David Rhodes and Scott Landfield with $500 cash and small loans at 28%, while utilizing a wealth of reclaimed wood and “creative sweat equity.”  At present there are 18 “neighborhood shareholders.” We are not profit driven, although we will likely turn a profit in 2024. At present Scott Landfield is the only active worker-owner. Since 2018 we have been growing the business through expanded new and used book sales, additional internet sales, and a sharper focus on the management of events here at the store. Book sales actually grew through the Covid and, most important to us here at the Bookstore, we finally realized the dream of becoming an independent small press: Tsunami Press. 

Folks, we are so excited to have Tsunami Press to complement Tsunami Books. We believe in real print runs of well-written books by people we come to know through our long years of daily work amongst the timeless stacks. At the moment we are in the early stages of another anthology, as well as talking to individuals whose manuscripts we would like to read. Your help with this Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign will greatly energize all of us here behind the counter in mindfully pursuing our dreams, as well as open up some backroom space for the next print run. 

If you haven’t read our books, get one here. And get one for a friend. And please, share this with your friends.

Thank you very much 🙂