Thursday, October 1, 2026
CHELAN – A new chapter is unfolding at Riverwalk Books, Chelan’s beloved independent bookstore since 1994.
Husband-and-wife duo Tyler and Stefani Miller recently took ownership of the store, ushering in a new era while honoring the bookstore’s deep local roots. Though the owners have changed, the heart of Riverwalk Books remains very much the same.
“My wife, Stefani, has actually been managing the store for almost four years,” said Tyler. “And I had worked here as a teenager, years and years ago.
“We're book people—book lovers, big readers, of course. I’ve always been interested in owning a bookstore and being able to put it together and do it the way you'd like to.”
The Millers officially took over just days before the busy Fourth of July weekend. While the timing brought added pressure, they embraced the challenge. There was a lot to tackle—from paperwork and setting up the point-of-sale system to restocking the shelves with books.
“But the store is well-established. It has a long history and a good reputation,” Tyler said. “People come here every year while on vacation, so we haven’t had to worry about finding customers. That’s been really encouraging.”
Riverwalk Books was founded in the 1990s by Libby Manthe, a passionate book advocate and a vibrant presence in the Northwest literary community. After Libby passed away from cancer several years ago, her husband Bob Manthe continued running the store, with Stefani managing the day-to-day operations.
Now, with the Millers at the helm, Bob says it felt like the right moment to pass the torch.
“It was my wife's passion,” Bob said. “The reason I sold it to Stefani and Tyler is, Stefani worked for me for a while and she knows the store. She has a passion for books.”
“It was just the right time,” he added. “Our family's been doing this for a long time, and we thought it was the right time with the right person to take it over and follow the tradition of what my wife, Libby, had started.”
The connection between the Manthe and Miller families made the transition a natural one.
“Bob had been pretty open about being willing to sell,” Tyler said. “Eventually, when he was ready to make that move, he came to us, which was really exciting.”
Their daughters, Beckett (7) and Tatum (5), are also getting to know the store in a new way.
“They’ve spent a fair amount of time here already, but the idea of transitioning from a place where ‘mama works’ to ‘our store’ is something special,” Tyler said. “It feels like a second home.”
For longtime customers, the Riverwalk Books experience will feel comfortingly familiar. The Millers have no plans to drastically change the store’s identity.
“We’re not going to renovate or refashion it into something totally new,” Tyler said. “It’s a bookstore—we’re going to have all kinds of books in here, just like before. We are moving some things around to make space for more inventory, but the core of what makes it special isn’t changing.”
That includes the return of beloved events like the annual “Where’s Waldo” summer scavenger hunt, held every July, and a renewed focus on connecting with the broader community.
“We’re hoping to reestablish connections with different parts of the community that Libby may have had relationships with in the past,” Tyler said. “Just anywhere there are readers in the community—schools, churches, book clubs, the senior center, Meals on Wheels. Part of our job is to reach out and build those relationships.”
The Millers have blended their personal tastes with years of insight into the local customer base to rebuild the store’s inventory thoughtfully. Their first book order focused on restocking the essentials—classics, popular novels, and the kinds of titles people expect to find in a well-stocked bookstore.
“But we also wanted to bring in things that are a little offbeat, those little treasures that people don’t even know they’re looking for,” Tyler said.
The result is a curated mix that appeals to both locals and tourists, spanning genres from mystery and romance to quirky coffee table books.
“They're on vacation, so they usually want something that's kind of lighter like a beach read, not a thousand-page presidential biography,” he said.
At the same time, the Millers enjoy bringing in unique, unexpected finds.
“So, not the kind of thing that appeals to everybody, but kind of a little treasure for the right person,” he said.
Beyond books, Riverwalk now features a wide selection of toys, puzzles, greeting cards, candles, journals, and locally sourced gifts. These include book-themed teas and organic honey produced by one of Tyler’s former students, who now runs his own beekeeping business.
What continues to set Riverwalk Books apart is its deep personal connection to the community.
“We really try to cater specifically to the local community,” Tyler said. “We know what people are looking for. We’ll order something with a specific customer in mind—like a woodworking book for my banker, just because I thought he’d enjoy it. It’s about building relationships so people want to come back.”
Upstairs, the children’s section has been thoughtfully designed with families in mind, featuring cozy bean bags, storytime space, and books for all reading levels.
“We want families to feel like this is a fun, welcoming place—a spot where kids of all ages can hang out, read, or just explore,” he said.
Tyler brings a diverse background to the business—he previously worked in digital marketing, taught English and history, and is a published author of middle-grade horror novels (available in-store, of course). But at the heart of the store’s future is a simple goal.
“I hope people feel a lot of excitement when they come in—enthusiasm to see a lot of books on the shelves again,” he said. “We really hope that families feel like this is a really fun and cozy environment where kids of all ages can come and hang out.”
“There's lots to find in here,” he added. “Things that they may have heard of and been looking for, but also, new discoveries.”
In a region where seasons bring waves of visitors and community ties run deep, Riverwalk Books continues to be more than a bookstore. It’s a gathering place, a quiet escape, and a family-owned business rooted in tradition with fresh energy for the future. With the Millers at the helm, this local treasure is just beginning its next great story.
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