When Village House of Books opens in Los Gatos, Calif. on Aug 14 it will become the community’s only general bookstore since Borders closed there in 2011, and a welcome addition to residents who have been longing to buy from a bricks and mortar retailer.
Local residents Cheryl and Steve Hare decided to open the store because they’re supportive of the shop local/shop indie movement, and because there were no bookstores in Los Gatos with the exception of a few used book retailers. “We’re so excited,” Cheryl said, “and every day we have people knocking on the door telling us how much it means to them that we’re opening. This community has really missed having a bookstore.” She admits that she and her husband are “not necessarily book people, but we do read books.” They come from sales backgrounds, with Cheryl having worked as account coordinator for Clinique in Southern California for a number of years and Steve owning and running health clubs in Los Gatos, which is about 50 miles southeast of San Francisco.
“We needed help at first, and hired the owners of Pilgrim’s Way Books in Carmel, Calif. as consultants to show us what to do and how to buy our inventory,” says Cheryl. Ingram is their primary source for books at this time, and Village will stock about 1,200 titles with categories including New York Times bestsellers, children's books, local authors, classic literature, metaphysics, and the environment. “Everyone has been helpful in showing us the nuts and bolts of running a bookstore. Other indies we’ve visited have spent a lot of time with us. They want us to succeed.” The Hares plan to run the 800-square foot store themselves without additional staff. They have joined ABA and will participate in the IndieBound program.
