Kim is the co-founder of Bookstore People, a fun blog with the tagline Reviews of independent bookstores because buying and reading books is an adventure. Kim ran this essay on her blog two years ago, and submitted it to the Spotlight on Bookstores giveaway sponsored by HarperPerennial. Random.org pulled it as the Grand Prize winner; Kim will soon be shopping with a shiny new $25 gift card to Gallery Bookshop. Find out why this is her “all time favorite bookstore:”
Gallery Bookshop and Bookwinkle’s Children’s Books in Mendocino, California, a small New England style sea village on the coast of Northern California, is my all time favorite bookstore. I daydream about owning that bookstore. During my worst days when clients were demanding, I’d heard “Mommie” hundreds of times in an hour, dinner is once again “Domino’s Delivers!” and the plumbing is taking the day off, I’ve called my husband and asked him to contact a broker to buy the store. When life is too much; this is my escape dream.
I first visited the Gallery Bookshop almost twenty years ago when it was a small shop on a side street – I thought of the original Gallery Bookshop while reading about Harry Potter’s room under the stairs. The last time I returned the store had expanded to a space four times larger with windows across the front overlooking a full view of the State Headlands Park, the dark, rocky cliffs and the Pacific. The store is filled with light, warmth and thousands of books. The store still lives up to its name as the “Gallery” bookshop with stationery, cards and beautiful items. They support local authors with a significant collection of their works.
I spent an afternoon meandering among aisles of tall, dark bookcases while my husband sat in the car with the napping kids, listening to the radio. I was gone so long he completely drained the car battery, and we had to call Triple A for a jump. I bought Kalimantaan by C.S. Godshalk there that afternoon, and seeing it on my bookshelf makes me smile as I recall that magical place.
During our last visit, our innkeeper told us that it takes a PhD just to get a job at the Gallery Bookstore. I only have a JD, and I’m sure the last thing Mendocino needs is another lawyer, so I’ll have to console myself with the knowledge that the Gallery Bookshop is only a short plane flight and a lovely drive along the coast away.
Thanks for introducing us to Gallery Bookshop, Kim! Readers, did you happen to click over and read the Bookshop Manifesto? What is your favorite line? I couldn’t choose just one!
I love local stores that support local authors!
It sounds as if this book shop is quite the escape for Kim, as any really good book store is! Great post!
I’d love to find the time to visit this place. I haven’t been to Mendocino in years and would love to get there this winter.
As someone who has worked at Gallery Bookshop since 1988 when it was the shop on the side street thank you for the kind words. And I only have a Master’s degree in Library Science to qualify me to work there…and the fact I’ve written four books…Katy
I owned Gallery Bookshop from 1980 to the fall of 2006, when I sold it to the wonderful Christie Olson Day, who had already worked there for something like nine years. I take all the above praise personally, and personally thank the author and everyone who agrees with her. Of course it’s a great store… and it’s been swimming against strong tides ever since Amazon.com was invented, Barnes & Noble and Borders went all corporate raider on us, E-books exploded, and people began to use the Net more than the printed book. All that and two fires, at least two devastating floods (one plumbing; one rain) and we have lived through all of this and come out on the other side still a fantastic place to get in touch with your inner reader. I am so happy and delighted at how well Christie is doing, and I love the improvements and changes and new energy she’s brought to the place. Thanks to all who have worked there and shopped there over the years. Love you! Tony
Kathy – I hope that local support continues to gain momentum across the country.
Zibilee – doesn’t time just FLY by when you’re in a bookstore?!
Kathleen – oh, I hope you do get back up there soon. How nice to be able to visit all the stores Spotlighted here.
Katy – so nice to know that the Gallery staff really knows their shop and their customers (no blank stares and typing into an inventory computer)
Tony – wow, Gallery Bookshop has been thru a lot! You certainly laid a great foundation for the store to continue on; seems that it is thriving!
Gallery Bookshop is my absolute favorite book store in the whole world! My husband and I visit Mendocino at least once a year, sometimes more. We always stop in and invariably buy one or two books each.
I found out Gallery was sold in 2006 after it happened, I still like to dream about what my life would have been like if I knew before hand and tried to buy it. Tony did a great job with the store, Christie is continuing on with that tradition, and I still get to dream about one day moving there and owning it.
Evelyn – as much as I love reading “I want to go to that bookstore!” comments, it’s also very nice to hear from people who shop at the featured stores and add their ‘thumbs up’ to the post!! thank you!
Kim – thanks again for your lovely post. If I ever get over to this part of the west coast I’ll be sure to visit Gallery Bookshop for myself