A Novel Guy

EUGENE, Ore. — Hidden in a small strip mall at Hilyard and 24 Street is a treasure trove for all book lovers. 

Black Sun Books is an independent bookstore that has made Eugene its home for 32 years. Racks of discounted novels line the sidewalks and decorate the unassuming exterior. Inside, crowded wooden bookshelves stretch floor to ceiling. Behind a desk filling out a tattered paper ledger sits Peter Ogura, the store's founder. 

Ogura opened the store in 1992. Since then, Black Sun Books has cultivated loyal followers. Online customer reviews describe the store as, “expertly curated for the bibliophile.” They praise not just Ogura’s selections but his attitude: “Owner is very knowledgeable and fun to talk to.” The store’s first customer still shops there today.

The idea of Black Sun Books came to fruition after a deserted career in law, a hardback copy of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” and a serendipitous visit to a coffee shop. 

Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Ogura left home to attend Colorado College in Colorado Springs. There, he briefly studied English before changing his major to political science. The workload was overwhelming; he said that sometimes he read 500 pages a day for the English curriculum, “I did the assigned reading but not much else.”

After graduating, Ogura moved to San Francisco to attend law school. “For a long time I wanted to be a lawyer,” he said. He achieved his Juris Doctor and worked at a plaintiff's injury litigation law firm where he explored public legal publishing. The job was “basically creating fodder for lawyers to read, which you can imagine is pretty boring,” he said. 

Although he was working, he made time for reading— fiction, this time.

Ogura made the rounds to the Bay Area’s independent bookstores and enjoyed the atmosphere of each one, “I just found them compelling.”

During this time, he recalled being impressed with John Nicholas’ “The Milagro Beanfield War” and Hunter S. Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” “I decided in those cases, I’d be interested in having a hardcover copy,” he said. Investing in special editions came with a hefty price tag; he remembered copies being about $75 each. “I thought, ‘That’s a lot of money to pay, but I’ll probably have these books forever.’ So I sprang for them.” 

Thirteen years passed and Ogura continued accumulating books with the slight notion that he could eventually open a store. 

He visited Oregon throughout the years to visit friends from college. Eugene had proved to be an inexpensive vacation, and by 1989, he quit his position at the law firm and moved to Lane County. 

The idea of opening a bookstore became a reality for Ogura by chance. One afternoon, he stopped for coffee on Hilyard Street at Allann Brothers Beanery Cafe, which has since closed. Beside the cafe was a florist who was going out of business. Ogura asked what would become of her store, and she handed him the name and number of the landlord. 

Ogura said he felt lucky, as the cafe and a nearby restaurant were interested in expanding into the florist’s spot. The landlord “cut me a break and let me have the space,” he said. 

Originally, Black Sun Books was a less-than-500-square-foot room filled with items from Ogura's personal collection. It didn’t take long for him to expand. After three years he moved into a space next door, which is the stores current location. It is slightly bigger: 925 square feet. “I could still use more space, but I’m not going to move again,” he said.

Some dedicated customers have been getting their literature from Black Sun Books since he opened the store. Ogura enjoys having a long-term customer base. “They’re kind of like friends,” he said. 

Cynthia Adams was the first purchase at Black Sun Books in 1992, and she continues to shop there today. Ogura fondly calls Adams his “number one.” She said his interaction with customers is something she appreciates, “It’s nice to have a little chat.” 

As Ogura grows older, turning 70 this year, rumors circulate about the store's future and potential closure. “I rue the day Black Sun Books is no longer there,” Adams said. “I hope it is there for a very long time, that it has a legacy that transcends my life. It’s part of Eugene.” 

Currently, Ogura has no plans for retirement and says he will close the store by his mid-70s.

There is potential for ownership change. Though Ogura doubts he would find success in selling his business. “How marketable is an under 1000-square-foot bookstore?” he said. “But people have dreams, right?” 

Image courtesy of https://usedbookstores.wordpress.com