Outpost Books, selling both new and used titles, hosted its grand opening last month at 1010½ Fair Oaks Ave. in South Pasadena, Calif. At the time, owner Nicole Novembrino posted on social media: "Thanks for the warm welcome! Outpost Books' grand opening this past weekend was something else! The South Pasadena community and book lovers from all around really showed up. We're so happy to be here and are excited to be part of the neighborhood."
Inside the new bookstore, "custom corral doors open to a mural of a desert sunset," LAist reported. "Hand-drawn signs guide you to each genre. Novembrino selects the books herself, from bestsellers to history books, including those that honor Route 66--which Fair Oaks is part of. Some of the used books come from a local retirement home. The stickers for sale are for causes she supports such as keeping national parks public. A donation box to keep wild horses and burros free sits by the cash register."
"I wanted it to feel obviously cozy [like] a bookstore," but also "like a trading post, where you just stop along the road, and there's stuff everywhere," said Novembrino, who picked South Pasadena because the area didn't have a bookstore. She is aware how difficult it is to run a small business, noting that a nearby toy store had said a rent hike could lead to the shop shutting down. "That's the one thing when you own a business is making rent. I hope not to feel that fear, but it's a very real thing."
On opening day she was shocked to see a long line out the door, adding: "I've gotten thank-yous for opening. They're just excited to have a bookstore. I wasn't expecting that."
Novembrino is "still settling into the dream of finally running a bookshop," LAist noted. "As for her second dream, that's opening up a donkey rescue."