Conveniently named, Downtowne Books is a bookstore located in downtown Riverside that sells (you guessed it) books, old and new. Independent and woman-owned since its opening in 1979, Downtowne Books is at the top of my list of favorite places to shop. Cute and rustic, the shop sits at the corner of Main Street, only about 10 minutes from campus.
For help locating the entry door, there is usually a sign on the sidewalk with an arrow instructing you to go underneath an arch and follow down a small ally on the side of the building that is covered in lush plants and flowers.
It makes for a great photo opp, too. In front of the door, there is sometimes a cart full of books on sale from $1 to $5 that is worth browsing. Once you enter the shop, you’ll be greeted by the cozy smell of the old books that fill the rows of wood shelves throughout the shop. The books are organized by genre, and there is an expansive religion section. Prices for the books depend on their timeliness – newer ones usually are marked at $15-$20, and you can find old er ones for about $5- $15. One of my favorite finds was a collectible “The Purpose Driven Life Workbook,” by Rick Warren that had a leather cover and was $5. If you want to sell your books, the store offers trade-in credit.
Sisters Nadia and Vera Lee bought Downtowne Books in 2002 and in mid-2023 sociopolitical scientist, Dr. Jungmiwha Bullock, took over ownership, according to their Instagram @downtownebookstore. Since becoming the owner, Bullock, on behalf of the shop, has put on several philanthropic events. For example, in July, artist and author Kadir Nelson came to the shop, painted merchandise and took part in a meet and greet. In December, the shop hosted the Artwalk Kickoff event in collaboration with the California School for the Deaf, Riverside. Also in December, Downtowne Books had their first annual toy drive in collaboration with The Heart Matters nonprofit organization. All of these events and other important information about the shop can be found on their socials, as well as fun posts such as reels where viewers can get to know the employees, watch how Bullock makes her mom’s infamous Korean recipes and see themselves in recaps from events.
Along with books, Downtowne Books sells funny stickers, bookmarks and trendy merchandise such as tote bags and T-shirts, which can also be purchased on their website: https://downtownebookstore.square.site/. Since the products they sell change almost daily, it makes each visit new and refreshing. I’ve spent many hours here perusing through books and love to introduce friends and family to the shop as they usually fall in love with it, too. Just be warned, if you decide to come back and become a regular, they will want to know your name and will be certain to make you feel like family each time you come back.
For those with commitment issues, maybe stay away from this one.
