How the local bookstore strengthens and celebrates the Davis community with books.
By KATYA OKS — city@theaggie.org
Located in Downtown Davis on 617 2nd St., The Avid Reader is an all-time favorite for UC Davis students. With wide glass windows showcasing displays of books that span from national favorites to releases from local authors, the bookstore has played an integral part in creating the welcoming and familial atmosphere and attitude of the town of Davis.
The Avid Reader is an “independent bookstore that has been serving the community since 1987 […] a beloved local institution that offers a wide selection of books, gifts, toys, and children’s items,” according to their website.
Evalynn Farkas, a bookseller at Avid, recounts how she found out about The Avid Reader and what drew her to find work at the store.
“I’ve always loved books my whole life,” Farkas said. “The bookstore was the friendliest place; it was the first place I went to visit [when I moved here.]”
Farkas explained how the welcoming environment of the bookstore has introduced her to a tight-knit community of people who have become a safe space for her.
“The people here in the store have become my best friends,” Farkas said. “They’re the best people to be with in town. […] One of my coworkers even showed me how to bike and got me a bike.”
The community between coworkers has also permeated the relations between workers and customers. Workers, such as Farkas, pride themselves on the personal connections that are made, which encourage deeper discussion through and about storytelling.
“It’s nice to be able to actually have one-on-one moments with people and to be able to hear what they’re passionate about,” Farkas said. “Some of the [customers] are so willing to converse and teach you things too.”
In addition to having a friendly and welcoming community, The Avid Reader has prioritized holding events to celebrate diversity. Each month, their official website and physical bookstore spotlight books that celebrate marginalized communities and their achievements, taking part in the observance of Autism Awareness Month, Women’s History Month, Muslim-American Heritage Month and many more.
Farkas highlighted how the bookstore has become a space for inclusivity, safety and a thriving community, not only for her but for the town of Davis as a whole. She loves to see the variety in topics and identities that are featured in the books they sell and believes it helps empower the Davis community as a whole.
“[The community] is also very LGBT-friendly,” Farkas said. “I come from a city where it wasn’t so friendly to be open about not being straight. It’s been really refreshing to have a community of people who are very welcoming, no matter who you are.”
The Avid Reader has also become a hotspot for hosting local authors and events — allowing authors to share insight on their experiences and writing processes as well as bridging the gap between authors and customers.
Elliot George, a supervising manager for the store, talked about the impact of author events on the community and reading experience.
“[Hosting events] just present opportunities for people to come together,” George said. “Maybe not every single author is super-duper famous, but it’s so cool to be able to ask people about their experiences. […] We had an author, a few weeks ago, who in the ‘70s or ‘80s had come up to Norway or some European country, to help out on a farm and […] basically had to run the whole thing on their own. It was a really cool thing to hear from this person, of course, be able to talk to them and have their book here.”
George also said how the collaborative nature of their community has allowed for a more curated and personalized experience when shopping. In addition to many mainstream novels and books, The Avid Reader also loves to find more niche and curated titles, as a reflection of the broader Davis community.
“There’s a book on the shelf, ‘The Perfume Collector,’ that probably doesn’t get a lot of sales in other bookstores, but one of our previous staff members has been so passionate in promoting it, […] she was out there, you know, getting people to read it,” George said. “We have the ability to promote a single title like that and be passionate about it.”
Farkas reiterated the importance of reading as a hobby and finding community from that.
“I just hope that people, if anything, get to find refuge in books more than the onslaught of doomsday news,” Farkas said. “It’s nice to put down your phones sometimes and just read [to escape].”
Check out The Avid Reader on 617 2nd St. and their official website for upcoming events.
Written By: Katya Oks — city@theaggie.org
