She’s baa-aack! Several months ago, Ti at Book Chatter and Other Stuff shared a fantastic Spotlight post on The Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver, Colorado. I was fantasizing about packing my bags and visiting the bookstore, when I saw this post about Ti’s Mother’s Day outing. I added another stop to my imaginary tour of book shops, and asked Ti if she would tell us more in a Spotlight post. Fortunately for all of us, she gladly obliged … I think a second trip to the store was required for “additional research” (wink, wink, nudge, nudge!)
This past Mother’s Day I decided to head to Ojai, California to check out a bookstore that a co-worker had recommended to me. The family and I loaded into the car, map in hand, and headed out to Ojai after a delicious Mexican feast. We had no idea what to expect as my co-worker friend called it a bookstore “stand” that is outdoors. Hmmm…an outdoor bookstore? I was intrigued.
As we pulled in front of Bart’s Books, I think that my body started to get out of the car before the car actually pulled to a stop. Back in 1964, Richard Bartinsdale’s book collection had gotten a bit out of hand so he set-up bookcases along the sidewalk so that passerby could take a look at what he had. In lieu of cash registers, he set-up coffee cans and just asked people to place their payment into the cans.
The coffee cans are gone but the bookcases surround the entire house, the inner courtyard and several of the rooms within the house. Ojai has very mild weather so corrugated roofing material protects the books from the elements and you are left with shelf after shelf of great finds! My favorite room is the kitchen, which appropriately houses a huge collection of cookbooks.
My family was very kind and let me roam aimlessly for quite awhile. I was in heaven! The books were well organized but I was not! I left the house without my reading list so I ended up with only two books, Rebecca and The Danish Girl but I enjoyed browsing through all of the aisles. It’s probably the most unique bookstore that I have every visited and it’s close enough for me to visit every couple of months.
The bookstore is located on the corner of Matilija and Canada streets. There are some refreshments that can be purchased such as coffee and soda but the restroom is not a public restroom so be sure to plan accordingly. There are several restaurants and shops just a couple of blocks away so you can spend a lovely day in Ojai and come home with a few treasures.
What an adorable little place! I laughed at the image of Ti with a leg out of the car before it stopped! This one is definitely road-trip worthy!
What a great atmosphere to browse, but I’d need a public restroom for sure if I spent much time there!
Oh,how fun! I got to the picture of the kitchen and had to get Maggie. She says I have to many books! Well, at least there’s food and dishes in our cupboards
. I haven’t thrown it all out to make room for more books.
What a creative entrepreneurial idea. It fits the area of Ojai. It reminds me of an outdoor art fair. What a pleasant place to spend an afternoon.
That looks like a fantastic place to spend an afternoon! (And isn’t Ojai the name of the family business in the show BROTHERS AND SISTERS?)
I love it! We don’t have ANY indi book stores in my area so it is so nice to find one somewhere and stop in. Amazon and Books a Million are my only options except other online book sellers.
I’d love to spend an afternoon browsing there!
What a cool place! Great pictures!
If any of you ever visit Ojai you simply must visit. I’ve been there a couple of times since Mother’s Day!
I sure wish I had known about this store earlier this year. My daughter and I made a quick overnight visit to Ojai for her to visit a school that she was applying to. We could have taken time for sure for a bookstore as we are both readers. Next time we go to Southern California we will have to remember.
That is by far and away the most unique bookstore I have ever seen!
I just read The Alchemyst which partially takes place in Ojai! Pretty good story. Actually one of those that I thought was just ok (the kids will love it), but darned if I’m not going crazy to know what happens in the second book. Will blog about it soon
I love it! Love the pictures! I want to go. Maybe move there…
This looks like book heaven!
I live close enough to visit! I want to check it out soon!
This one is actually within driving distance for me! Yay!!
Well done, Ti!
An extraordinary feature, and so necessary. I feel as if I’ve been in this particular shop before.
Wow…this looks great. A bookstore like this would never work in New England or even in Maryland! LOL It would be wet more than dry.
Great spotlight.
This is probably the coolest idea for a bookstore that I have seen yet. I love this!! I would love a chance to visit this place and get a look at it in person. I echo the above poster, this totally wouldn’t work in my city, too much rain and humidity.
Customers can use the restroom, you just have to ask for the key. I live in Ojai and this is one of the best places there. Be sure to visit the Coffee House “Java & Joe” 4 blocks east on Matilija St.