The Book Nook, a used and new bookstore, opened in May in Hilmar, Calif., the Turlock Journal reported. The bookstore is located at 19704 Bloss Ave., in what was formerly the office of a self-storage facility. While its inventory predominantly consists of used books, there are new titles, with an emphasis on local authors.
"I've always wanted to open up a bookstore, because I absolutely love, love books," Bivens told the Turlock Journal. Prior to opening the Book Nook, she and her husband operated the storage unit business in the building. After it became a biotech facility, the office was no longer in use, and she and her husband decided to open a bookstore in that space.
Bivens noted that opening the bookstore was a way to make use of the substantial collection she and her husband had accrued, as well as to honor their late daughter, who died suddenly last year and was also a book lover.
"She loved books, and she loved to read too," Bivens said. "She always picked on me about how many books I had, and was I ever going to get to the point where I could read them all. So, I think she would very much have approved and loved it."
The Book Nook has hosted a number of events so far, including a signing with local children's author Marisa Silva Rocha. In the fall, Bivens plans to expand the store's event offerings with a book club and paint-and-sip nights, among other programming. She also intends to start offering blind dates with a book.
So far, she said, the response to the store has been "wonderful, absolutely fabulous."