Best-non food shop: Avid Reader
A look at the store transporting Davis bookworms to other worlds
By AMBER WARNKE — features@theaggie.org
Bookshelves circle the walls of the quaint shop, as bookworms can be found burying their heads in mysteries, nonfiction, bibliographies, romance and more at Avid Reader. Voted as Aggies’ favorite non-food store downtown, the small business stands on 617 2nd St., where it has reliably operated from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week since 1987.
Tyler Cross, a first-year nursing major at Sacramento City College, has lived in Davis his whole life, and started working for Avid Reader as a book clerk five years ago. Cross said that one of his favorite things about the store is the local level at which it operates, which contributes to its community feel.
“We are an independent bookstore, which is nice,” Cross said. “We don't really have some big corporate agenda. Every single person [who works] here is on a first name basis with the owner and most of the owner's family, who are very involved in the bookstore.”
Delaney Garland, a UC Davis alumna with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in psychology, has frequented the bookstore on a regular basis for the past several years. Garland has also noticed the friendly climate of the bookstore, and said it encourages her to keep coming back.
“I can tell that the people who work there enjoy working there and are passionate about keeping the business alive and up-to-date with what's happening in society,” Garland said. “I feel like they always have very relevant displays up, and they change their signs and they keep it fresh […] I think it's very quirky and bubbly and fun and on-topic.”
Avid Reader showcases books that bring attention to important topics, and correlates their displays to observances held throughout the year. Currently, the store features a section of books relating to Autism Visibility Month for April, and will display collections of books for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Disability Pride Month and many more.
The store changes their book displays as frequently as they like, allowing them to bring attention to various identities and societal topics. As a business managed by locals, Avid Reader is better able to meet the needs of Davis residents, according to Cross.
“We have a bit more of a personalized taste for the community,” Cross said. “Normally, we go off [purchasing books based on] what's popular in California and the surrounding area, and also just the United States in general. And then, a lot of times it is just local authors or recommendations.”
Avid Reader is a unique space for many local authors to share their stories with the Davis community, which also allows Davis residents to be frequently exposed to published authors. In the month of May alone, the shop will be hosting three author events for the public, most of which are free to attend.
While the book store does have books on a diverse range of topics, Garland has found Avid Reader to be helpful even when they don’t have something she wants.
“I've had multiple books that I went in, asked if they had it and if they didn't have it, they would immediately offer to order it,” Garland said.
Ultimately, no matter what type of book Aggies are craving, Avid Reader has something for everyone, according to Cross. In a world where screentime keeps going up and literacy rates are declining, Avid Reader helps keep reading exciting by fostering an environment that celebrates books and encourages everyone to find inspiration in the world of literature.
“[Reading] can help you learn stories and fit in the shoes of other people that you wouldn't have normally been able to,” Cross said.
Written by: Amber Warnke — features@theaggie.org