Three people are huddled around a desk. Book covers are being flipped open and shut at a rapid-fire pace, until a petite woman spots me, smiles, and says shell be right there.
Pam Townsend and her partner, David Gagné are examining, pricing and buying books from an early-morning customer at Ys Books a newly opened used book store at Main and 27th.
So I wander to the back while I wait, cooing at the vintage table lamps and fey sitting stools dotting the tiny space.
As I round a chest-high bookshelf, I see it: a mint-condition version of a graphic design book a colleague had lent me two years ago, that I had been forgetting to give back because it was so beautiful. Reminded of my guilt, the feeling quickly lifted as I flipped open the cover and saw $15 written faintly in pencil in the top right corner; I would buy it, pry his copy from my greedy book-hoarding clutches and return the latter to its rightful owner. (#Bookworldproblems.)
As Townsend glides past me to brew some tea for our interview, I cant help but share the serendipity. A thoughtful look crosses her face and she smiles:
A lot of people have looked at that book, and asked me about it, but nobody has bought it. I just said to David, You know, someone is meant for that book. It was waiting for the right person.
She may be a newcomer to the book-love business, but you can tell she was always meant to matchmake.
Her tidy, two-month-old store has the inviting quality of being at rest: warm wood tones and soothing music dissolve the busy streetscape behind you. Details, such as a bulletin board by the front door pinned with a colourful assortment of bookmarks, draw you in and complement the space.
It may not seem cool, but all these bookmarks came from inside books, and some of them are local stores ones that dont exist anymore such as Hermit, Paulines Books, Madelines Books 
From there, as you stroll along the second-hand shelves, book spines glisten pristinely, all thoroughly cleaned before stocking. (Books with more wear-and-tear go on the bargain table, where gems can be found for as low as $1.)
Hand-lettered tags lead you along the stacks through Eckhart Tolles spiritual teachings to Jack Kirbys art.
Ys Books has quietly joined the dozen or so used bookstores in Vancouver, such as Kestrel, MacLeods and Pulp Fiction, in competition for local dollars in what many decry as a dying industry. Are Townsend and Gagné crazy?
No, they seem quite well-adjusted and happy with their later-in-life decision.
Townsend confidently states that people still buy books, and have a preference for supporting independent stores.
Ive had a few of people come in and say, Thanks for opening here, because if you werent here, Id be in Chapters. Another person came in and said, We are so happy youre here. Thats every business owners dream to hear, and weve heard that a number of times, so that tells me that were doing the right thing, were in the right place with the right set up.
In terms of location, the duo couldnt have picked better, it seems.
I love the community. Theres a lot of camaraderie on Main Street. I wanted openhearted cooperation, and thats what I find here. Trendybucks gave us free balloons for our grand opening, the store next door gave us bags for our customers. Theyve come in saying welcome. It is so beautiful.
The idea to start the store came to them while house-sitting for a friend in Terrace and wondering what next?. The psychology degree-holder explains it was just time to open a bookstore.
What makes Ys a particular pleasure, is that the store is well-stocked with local and BC authors.
In hyper buying mode at the moment, Townsend encourages people to bring in more books with the regional angle in mind.
Shes also starting in-store readings for kids ages four to nine in the next couple of weeks called Fairytale Tuesdays, offering up five- to 10-minute doses of Grimms another result of being on Main.
What I think is unique [to Main] is we have a lot of moms and families coming in asking for childrens books. And a lot of young adults come in buying books, including classics, which is so cool.
The narrative of any iconic street is written by the businesses that have been there for decades, but what keeps the pages turning are the types of new businesses the area attracts. And this particular chapter just makes you want to curl up in a cozy nook and read.
