When most people see the pink horse trailer parked around Santa Barbara and Goleta, they’re not sure what they’re looking at. Usually, they think it’s another food truck.
“Most of the time, if they don’t follow us or haven’t heard of us, and they’re just walking down the street … they’re kind of looking in and have a little confused look. We’ll be like, ‘Come on in,’ and then they get really excited,” All Booked Up co-owner Ali Bogatz said.
All Booked Up is a mobile bookstore that opened in May and was founded by Bogatz and Samantha Mooneyham, both Dos Pueblos High School teachers. Bogatz teaches social studies, and Mooneyham teaches math.
The two teachers came up with the idea of starting the business after seeing videos on social media of other people opening their bookshops. One day during lunch, Mooneyham shared a video with Bogatz and said they should try to start their own bookstore.
“Sam came to me with an idea, and I’ve always wanted to own a business. I’ve always really wanted that experience and to do it,” Bogatz said.
The idea to make All Booked Up a mobile store came because of high rents and the cost of running a traditional storefront. Instead of trying to start a brick-and-mortar store right away, they decided to convert an old horse trailer — named Taylor the Trailer.
The cost of the trailer before renovations was $6,000. The pair added shelves, a couch and other features to turn the trailer into a mobile shop.
Mooneyham said the idea for the store name came to her before she and Bogatz fully committed to the idea of starting the business.
“I was at home one day and I kind of had like a daydream about a brick-and-mortar and how it would look, and the name just kind of popped into my head. I texted her and I was like, ‘This is the name,’” Mooneyham said.
Even though the store focuses on romance and fantasy, All Booked Up features other genres and children’s books. It also will buy and sell used books, which it refers to as “previously loved.”
Anyone who brings in books to sell gets 10% off any purchases for the day. Used books are also sold for 50% off their list price.
The store also has tried to feature books and crafts from local authors and creators.
One of the local books it has featured is “Bored Panda” by New York Times best-selling author Mike Bender. The store was present when Bender appeared at a book-signing event at Chaucer’s Books in May.
Bogatz said the decision to offer a discount on books allows the store to sell to a wider range of customers at different price points. The shop offers collector’s editions, normal editions and used books.
Between the two of them, Bogatz is the one who runs the business side of the shop. She secured the necessary permits for the trailer and handles the business end. Mooneyham is in charge of curating the books and creating the designs for the business, including the logo.
Since opening, the store has made appearances around Goleta and Santa Barbara, including the Funk Zone downtown. The pair also will appear in other parts of Santa Barbara County with steady foot traffic, including festivals and events.
All Booked Up posts a schedule for the month on its Instagram account, @allbookedup.sb, and on its website, allbookedupsb.com.
The store is working to connect readers across the community and is launching a book club in September. It also offers other events, such as a bedazzling workshop at Funk Zone winery Fess Parker, where people can decorate the covers of their books.
As the school year begins, Bogatz and Mooneyham said the trailer will mostly be used on weekends because of their jobs and families.
They said they feel like the bookstore evokes the same feeling as the old Scholastic book fairs.
One day they hope to have a traditional storefront, but that Taylor the Trailer still would be an important part of the business.
“We want to be a gathering place, but we still want … fundamentally to be able to be out in the community and be with the people — so, a home for book lovers, but always an ability to be where the people are,” Mooneyham said.