When Poulsbo’s Liberty Bay Books decided to launch a Bremerton pop-up location in 2015 for the holidays, then-employee Kate Larson took charge.
“I drove the books back and forth from Poulsbo and ran the store during the day,” Kate remembers. The hard work paid off: Bremerton residents begged then-owner of Liberty Bay Books, Suzanne Droppert, to maintain the small storefront on Pacific Avenue.
It was in that first year of business at the new Bremerton location that Kate met Samantha Shear from Holly Ridge Center’s Adult Employment Services.
“The downtown area back then was really sleepy. Some days we’d only have three or so customers all day,” Kate said. “One day, Sam came in and asked whether we would consider doing job training and providing work experience to someone in their program.”
This was Kate’s introduction to inclusive employment, which ensures that people with disabilities have equal access to work opportunities in supportive environments.
“Sam spent lots of time answering our questions, assuring us that (Holly Ridge Center) would provide the structure and that we could provide what was needed for the training. Ultimately, it was Sam and the reassurance she gave that convinced us to go for it,” said Kate.
Enter David, an Adult Employment Services client with a wide smile and winning personality that proved to be a perfect fit for the bookstore. So perfect, in fact, that after his initial training period, he was hired on as a permanent employee.
David on shift at Ballast Book Company
David has been a fixture at the bookstore since 2016, with one notable exception: during the pandemic when—like a lot of in-person, small businesses—the bookstore was forced to shutter. It was during this period that other changes would manifest for an even brighter future.
By 2020, Kate was living in Connecticut when her former bookstore boss called with a proposition: Poulsbo’s Liberty Bay Books had been sold earlier in the year; did Kate want to buy the Bremerton location? In 2021, Kate returned to Bremerton, this time as the owner of the newly renamed Ballast Books.
Today, Ballast Book Company occupies that same Pacific Avenue storefront, but with new life in a thriving, revitalized downtown. Under Kate’s ownership, it has become a place where everyone feels welcome and seen. The store carries a diverse range of titles: there are the usual best sellers and YA favorites, but Kate makes a point to stock titles from local authors and those that reflect LGBTQ+, Black, and POC experiences.
Ballast Books now supports a staff of six, including the calm, steady presence of David, who has proven himself an invaluable part of the team.
“He takes charge of the tasks that need to be done that other staff on point of sale just don’t have time for. It’s great to have David to focus on things like branding of the bags and other activities that make sure we’re creating a good experience (for customers),” said Kate.
David has become so adept at his job that he no longer requires the constant presence of an on-site Holly Ridge Center job coach and manages himself and his time well. “We don’t ever have to remind him of what he needs to do,” said Kate.
He has also become a welcome fixture for customers and those around the area: “When he’s stickering bags, David will sit out front and people will recognize him. They’ll stop and give him a hug or to chat. He’s bonded with a lot of people,” said Kate.
As the Bremerton bookstore—now known as Ballast Book Company—closes in on its 10th anniversary this November, Kate is proud and humbled by the accomplishment.
“From the start, everyone was so excited to invest in the community,” she said. “And a great community has been built up. Not just readers, but a community as a whole that is supportive and connects people to one another.”
For other businesses considering inclusive employment, Kate encourages them to start with a conversation with Holly Ridge Center. “They will answer all your questions,” said Kate. “The job training program is a great way to test (inclusive employment) out. There’s zero risk and no reason not to do it. I don’t think a lot of people realize how easy it is!”
In 2026, Ballast Book Company will participate in several events, including:
- Independent Bookstore Day, April 25: Come visit your favorite independent bookstore—Ballast Book Company!
- Bremerton By the Book, Vol. 1, May 23, Quincy Square. Ballast Cook Company’s 1st Annual Book event featuring independently published authors. Historical romance and Science Fiction author Olivia Waite will headline.
- West Sound Film Festival 72 Hour Film Competition; March 27 & 28: Ballast Book Company is an official sponsor of this inaugural event for the West Sound Film Festival.
- Puget Sound Book Festival, second Sunday in August: Ballast Book Company will host a table at this annual celebration of indie bookstores and author communities.
Ballast Book Company also hosts a series of Book Clubs every month, including for fans of Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Movie Adaptations, LGBTQ+ themes, and more.
Check out everything Ballast Book Company has to offer at https://www.ballastbookco.com. You can also support the store by choosing it as your local independent book seller when you shop from Libro.fm for audiobooks or Bookshop.org for eBooks.