Vashon Bookshop, which has been in business for nine years, is expanding — adding enough space to increase its inventory by 10 to 15 percent, owner Karen Barringer said.

Barringer said she and co-owner Nancy Katica began to consider expanding their small shop after Heights Water moved its office from behind the bookstore to Vashon Plaza six months ago. Earlier this month, when they went over their revenue for 2009 and realized what a successful year they’d had, the two businesswomen decided it was time to expand, Barringer said.

“The community is so supportive. We had the best Christmas season ever,” Barringer said.

Barringer and her husband Don are now working nights on the expansion, tearing down walls and putting up new ones to take advantage of the space the old Heights Water office offers them. The store will not be closed during the renovation, she said. They hope to have the project competed by the end of February.

The bookstore, which sells mostly used and some new books, will be able to bring in 1,000 or more additional titles after the remodel, Barringer estimated. The community, she added, seems to particularly appreciate that Vashon Bookshop sells used books.

“It’s good economically. And it’s good environmentally,” she said. “This community really supports that.”