Petunia’s Place, the Book Exchange, Hart’s Haven, and 4 more independent bookstores that keep the Central Valley’s literary lovers happy.
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Located in the center of Old Town Clovis, one of the San Joaquin Valley’s largest used booksellers looks like a cross between a Wild West emporium and saloon. A Book Barn houses around 100,000 to 125,000 books in-store and between 1 million and 1.5 million in a warehouse for online sales. Clovis
The most thoughtful books and gifts for kids from all backgrounds can be bought at Petunia’s Place, a delicately curated children’s and YA retailer. Co-owners Debbie Manning and Jean Fennacy, both educators, are lifelong advocates for children’s literacy. Fresno
Founded in 1936, Beers Books has passed through four generations of ownership and continues to flourish in the digital age. The store is open daily for folks who want an in-person experience and love used books; it partners with Bookshop.org to bring new books and special orders to its online shoppers. Sacramento
Hart’s Haven, based in the soul of Fresno—the Tower District—is a longtime supporter of and host to Fresno’s LitHop and Rogue festivals. The store includes a stage where poetry heavy hitters like Juan Felipe Herrera and Joseph Rios have performed their work. Fresno
Swap old loves for new ones at the Book Exchange. The shop offers generous store credit for used books and has amassed a trove of general-interest titles as well as romance novels, children’s books, and esoteric collections like Stargate and Ellora’s Cave erotica. Manteca
The Instagram post captioned “Another stunning find! A signed Dune? Whaaat!!?” captures the vibe of this college-town oasis. Events like Valentine’s Day poetry-on-demand reflect the perspective of co-owners Muir Hughes and husband Josh Mills: bookstores are essential to a strong community. Chico
Books are a “magical escape,” says Debbie Swindler, who founded this tiny shop. The entrance is adorned with opening lines from the Harry Potter series—next to a wooden portal into the children’s section. For adults: fiction meticulously arranged by genre. Lincoln