Santa Barbara bookstores have been around for a long time, but this year they have faced unknown demands, different ways to sell books, financial doubts and other uncertainties.
Finding the right books for us and for holiday gifts will be different, making for a great time to use our independent stores to keep them going and growing. A book bought from Amazon might be cheaper, but buying in our community is richer.
For the past nine months, printed book sales have increased 6.4 percent, according to Publishers Weekly. Books provide information about items such as controversial situations, health, cultural disagreements and self-improvement. Finding a well-written and engaging book can diminish stress and tension.
Santa Barbara’s active bookstores with individual personalities give readers, authors and community members a chance to browse and explore hundreds if not thousands of books in a comfortable place with several connections. The heart of being there comes from owners, employees and customers who support these rich options.
Our local bookstores may not be as old as the world’s longest-operating bookstore, Livraria Bertrand founded in 1732 in Lisbon, Portugal. But over many decades, the independent stores have survived numerous changes in selling books and now have faced the COVID-19 pandemic.
They need support, especially today. Shopping adds richness to them and to us.
The oldest is The Book Den, founded in Oakland in 1902 with connections in Santa Barara before moving to 15 E. Anapamu St. in 1933, selling used and antique books. In current times, used and new books can be ordered online or by phone at 805.969.3321, outside the store or inside daily. Customers can pick up orders or have the books shipped directly to their address. The Book Den’s website also details its history and lists the entire inventory.
Owner Eric Kelly talked about customers: “There has always been a mix of locals and visitors, but during the lockdown months, it was the community readers who really made the difference. They bought gift cards for future use, made a point of giving their business to a local store rather than Amazon. So many have said how important it was for local businesses to survive. They make all the difference in the world.”
Tecolote Book Shop opened downtown near De la Guerra Plaza in 1925. The name came from the Aztec language — “tecolote” meaning owl in Náhuatl. It is associated with books and wisdom, from Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom. Many years ago, Tecolote moved to 1470 East Valley Road in Montecito’s Upper Village.
Manager Mary Sheldon pointed out that the bookstore has stayed open during the COVID-19 period since the front door is a double (Dutch) door. With the bottom locked, staff worked selling books over the top half. Now, up to five people can be inside to browse and buy, or call 805.969.4977.
“We followed all the protocols for being open every day except Sunday,” Sheldon said. “This has worked up to about a week ago, when business dropped off. Maybe people are getting around more and do not feel they have to stay home as much as possible. They can always call and order books, pick them up or have them shipped — always our policy.
“My hope is that the community will support all of the local stores and services. Without all the businesses and services, there will be no community, just a bunch of residential properties.”
Owner Mahri Kerley opened Chaucer’s Books, Santa Barbara’s largest bookstore, in 1974 in the Five Points Shopping Center. Soon, the little store was jammed with books, so she moved to 3321 State St. in Loreto Plaza in the early 1980s. There, it has grown even more with book sales now available outside the door. It’s open for browsing daily.
Greg Feitt, the general manager and book buyer, spoke for Chaucer’s, but his description applies to other bookstores.
“People in the store must wear a mask, sanitize their hands on entry and social distance as best as possible,” he said. “We’re continuing curbside pickup daily and local delivery for those who don’t feel comfortable quite yet browsing in store. Folks can also use our website to shop for books — or give us a call!”
The store’s number is 805.682.6787.
Feitt also talked about why readers inside are valuable.
“In-store browsing is very important to the business and an integral part of the experience of Chaucer’s,” he said. “We encourage it so long as it is being done as safely as possible.”
The unusual Lost Horizon Bookstore with old and antique books started 35 years ago in downtown Santa Barbara. When the rent of its longtime building scaled up in 2018, owners Jerry Jacobs and Angela Perko moved to the Upper Village in Montecito.
Enter the store and your mind will swirl with the fine artwork surrounding the shelves loaded with old, special books, many about Santa Barbara and California history. The store is open daily except Sunday. Check the website for more information, or call 805.962.4606.
The “youngest” and smallest of the independents, Mesa Books, opened 25 years ago. In 2017, Diane Arnold and D.J. Palladino, a former journalist for the Santa Barbara Independent newspaper, took ownership and have made the store an inviting place to peruse all kinds of books, many used.
It is another example of meeting up with friendly people and finding unexpected books.
“People are always welcome to come in and browse the bookshelves, two at a time,” Arnold said. “If they ask for a ‘curated’ version or what books they are interested in, we will pull a selection outside for them to view. It makes a huge difference to us to have people come into the store.
“For our part, it’s a labor of love. D.J. and I are both big readers and enjoy talking about books with people. Our time with the store has flown by. We are grateful and happy to have community support with many locals appreciating that we’ve continued Mesa Books when it was going to close.”
Without an Internet presence, the business must come from the community and travelers. It is open daily and accepts payment with cash or credit card. It also will take orders and payments over the phone at 805.966.3725.
“While book sales are up in a general sense, most bookstores — and retail, in general — are still way down overall,” Feitt told Noozhawk. “Much of the increase in sales is gobbled up by places like Amazon.
“We believe that small and independent businesses are part of the rich fabric of our community and others. If you love them, please continue to support them. The money you spend at locally owned businesses largely is spent locally, helps to employ your neighbors, and allows us to offer support to schools, the arts and other worthy local causes.
“We have many small, wonderful, locally owned shops in the world of literature and entertainment.”
— Noozhawk columnist Susan Miles Gulbransen — a Santa Barbara native, writer and book reviewer — teaches writing at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference and through the Santa Barbara City College Continuing Education Division. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are her own.