Bookstore and wine bar Book Society opened over the weekend in Berkeley, Calif., the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Located at 2945 College Ave. in Berkeley's Elmwood district, the store carries a curated selection of general-interest adult books, with a focus on local authors. The books are displayed on floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, complete with rolling ladder, and the bar serves a rotating variety of wines along with an assortment of snacks, including popcorn, olives, smoked sturgeon paté, and cheeses. Book Society also features an Italian-made wine dispenser, which allows customers to serve themselves.
When it comes to events, owner Laura Guzman plans to host author readings, book clubs, and yoga classes. She offers monthly subscriptions featuring book and wine pairings as well.
Guzman, originally from a small town in upstate New York, moved to the Bay Area in 2014 and had a previous career in marketing. A life-long reader, she became interested in opening a bookstore of her own after volunteering with the Friends of the Oakland Public Library, where she eventually managed their bookstore. Her decision to make the store a bookstore and bar was inspired in part by places like Busboys and Poets in Washington, D.C.
"It's the place that I felt like I needed right after Covid, and frankly we continue to need, now more than ever," Guzman told the San Francisco Chronicle. "There's something special about being surrounded by books and ideas and the joy of discovery."