Mr. Beans' Books and Beans

07/16/2026

Hi Gang...

Deb was scheduled for vacation this coming week and the original plan was that I would 'bull it through' with just Shannon to help out while she was gone, but with Beans' passing my heart's just not in it. I need a reset.

Therefore I decided that we're just gonna close up for the week. I'm gonna jump on a cruise and Shannon and Dani will take care of Muffin and Juniper (and probably spoil them mercilessly), so we're just gonna take a little break. We will see you bright and early Sunday, July 26th.

07/13/2026

It is with profound sadness that I am announcing that our beloved Mr. Beans has crossed the rainbow bridge this afternoon to be with his sister, Jasmine.

Beans lived a very active and fulfilling 18 years, but his numerous health issues finally caught up to him and he has gone to a well earned eternal rest. He may be gone, but he will live in the hearts of many, many people forever.

In lieu of cards or flowers, please consider making a small donation in Mr. Beans' name to the Marathon branch of the Florida Keys Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (our local shelter) or to Forgotten Felines of the Florida Keys (our local TNR organization).

He was my boon companion. I'm gonna miss the hell out of him.

04/30/2026

Heads up, gang...

I will be taking some badly needed days off next week (yeah, it's a cruise. What else?). Deb's knee is still bunged up but healing slowly and she needs a few days as well. We don't have enough staff to run the place with both of us out, so...

12/08/2025

We're hiring!

With Season upon us, the store is already seeing some pretty awesome numbers and it's apparent that we need more awesome people to keep things awesomely rolling. I'm looking for either a couple of part-timers or one full time employee.

Barista experience is not required, but would be a huge advantage. The base requirement for success in a cafe is the ability to use the espresso machine properly, especially the frothing wand. It's something that can't really be taught. Either you have the touch or you don't. Applicants will be given a quick tryout to gauge their skills. The other base requirement is attitude. This place is, and always has been, a labor of love. I want people who care about the product, the environment and their customers.

Pay is excellent. $18 an hour to start, 60 day probation. After that, $20. Tips are shared by shift. If you end up scheduled with me alone, by law and by custom you get all the tips. If you're looking for part-time we need help primarily in the mornings, 7 to noon. You must be able to work weekends.

Interested? Come by, fill out an application and you MAY be invited to try out. Please, no calls.

11/30/2025

New Arrivals!

Leigh Guest has published a sequel to "Fred the Tree", titled "A Friend Who Stays". Very cute. 20+ copies in stock, $14.99.

Given our business name we've always been cat-centric. Someone recently pointed out to me that some people like dogs. We don't judge. Newly arrived, 12 breeds of the cutest mini-dogs you've ever seen from Douglas Toys. At only $10.99 each, they scream (bark?) stocking stuffer!

Last but not least, we continue to see increases in the cost of ingredients for our wonderful coffee drinks, including a huge increase of $.60 a pound for coffee beans. Regrettably I have been forced to increase the price of our drinks slightly. On average, $.25 per espresso shot and coffee size. These prices will go into effect tomorrow morning.

11/08/2025

Surprise!

If you're a fan of Travis Baldree's "Legends and Lattes" series, we have a new chapter! Without any pre-publication publicity "Brigands and Breadknives" has dropped. I have 10 copies in stock, hard back only, $28.99.

By the way, If you love D&D style fantasy and you haven't read Legends and Lattes or Bookshops and Bonedust, you definitely should. I have all three titles in stock for your enjoyment.

10/20/2025

They're coming!

New Series III Juniper bookmarks (complimentary as always) and 4x3 oval vinyl stickers ($1) have been designed and ordered. Look for them late next week!

10/11/2025

We'll be closed for a few days while I take a breather. I'll stop at the bakery and Costco when I get off the ship so we'll be well stocked come Friday. The cats are being cared for lavishly while I'm gone and will probably not even notice my absence. See you soon!

07/23/2025

Time for an update!

As you can clearly see, Junie is having no trouble adjusting to her new home. Her integration with the existing staff was...interesting. She and Beans get along extremely well. She doesn't try to play with him aggressively and has been seen giving boop snoots. He lets her have first crack at the food bowl (unless I intervene and feed her first) and waits patiently. She doesn't eat much, so it's almost full when he gets to it. Beans seems to be doing much better with her around. Still needs extra cuddles every so often but hasn't had one of his episodes since she got here.

For the first three days or so Muffin treated Junie as an existential threat. There was much hissing, meowing and posturing, by which Junie was completely unfazed. After that Junie was treated as a minor annoyance, not worthy of her attention. On the seventh day I caught them doing boop snoots and the next morning I came in to the store to the sight of them actually playing together. Muffin still wants extra pets, she's jealous of the attention Junie gets.

All in all, much better than I expected and quite a bit faster. Junie is still the Tiny Furry Terrorist when she's in play mode. Amazingly fast with needle sharp claws to back it up. I have new scars. When she's ready for a nap or just waking up she's sweet and loving and purrs...loudly.

07/15/2025