Bank of Books Santa Paula update Feb 21 URGENT

Hi. My name is Clarey Rudd. Debby and I enjoy serving our community. We thank you for your commitment to us all these years.  Right now we need your help.  It is a major challenge to open a bookstore. We Dream to continue to serve and meet the growing needs of our local area by encouraging literacy.

Are you wondering how we fared during the pandemic? Good and Bad.... So many of you read what you had at home and cleaned out your garages and storage units, thinning your libraries during the months when Pandemic did not allow outside activities. When we re-opened, you brought your books for Trade Credit and to purchase additional reading materials. Thank you for your support. But this has caused an overload in the store.  For months we have been searching for a warehouse but they are scare in this area. We found a spot on Main Street, Santa Paula that will answer our need for additional warehouse space in the basement. The bonus is to open a bookstore on the main floor and better serve the community.

For those of you who visit our Abednego Book Shoppe, you understand why we need additional space. Through our Trade Credit Program, we gain additional books each day some of which we list and sell on the Internet (thus increasing our need for warehouse space). We have been in retail bookselling for nearly 6 decades and strongly believe a local bookstore is an "ESSENTIAL BUSINESS".

 

Yet, during the Pandemic, when schools and libraries were closed, we also were closed.  For months, we made no in-store sales. After a few months, when restaurants began to serve at curbside, we opened one of our stores for curbside service. Before long we received a call from a man struggling and asking for an AA book. When Code Enforcement came by they stopped our curbside service and said if we sold that man a book, we would get a big fine. Code Enforcement posted a sign, "NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESS" on our window. For that customer, who was in need,  he was able to buy ice-cream and liquor but not a book. That was not right.  Kids and adults needed reading material as they 'sheltered in place'. For academic interests to emotional health and for fun, books are needed to manage the growing stresses in life.   We press on but need your help to get this expansion up and running. Please help bring Bank of Books, voted #1 Independent Bookstore of Ventura County for 18 years, to Santa Paula.  

 

The immediate need is $14,000 to secure the lease. The remainder of the funds are needed for moving expenses, including hiring local people and set up costs; to build new book cases, purchase office equipment, for hiring retail clerks; for purchasing adequate signage, and to recover from the damages caused by the pandemic. We have inventory and fixtures but need to build some more book shelves to complete the setup of the main floor.   We are blessed to have most of the inventory needed but will need to bring in some additional to have a strong, quality bookstore.  We want to be an asset to Santa Paula and main street businesses.

 

The place we found in Santa Paula is a win-win for all. We will be able to use the basement for our warehouse needs AND have a retail location on the main floor at 820 E. Main Street. Beside being a complete, fully stocked, multi-genre carrier of new and used books, there will be an emphasis on Home Schooling and children's events. We want to continue to provide high level, Independent Bookstore service to you and your neighborhoods. We Dream of complementing the unique fabric of Santa Paula and helping it to develop into a regional shopping adventure. We Hope to encourage local artisans to display and sell their work in our store. We Wish to share our excitement and enthusiasm. Please join us and others in bringing Bank of Books to Santa Paula.

 

Will you come along side us to encourage our communities at this time? Please give what you can to support reading, learning and growing.

Any and all amounts are appreciated. 

Gifts of $20 or more will be listed on our Angel Wall.      Super Angel $50   
Olympic Medalists
                Bronze $100       Silver $500       Gold  $1,000          Platinum  $3,500

Thank you,

Clarey and Debby Rudd
Bank of Books                                                                                       Abednego Book  Shoppe
748 E. Main St.                                                                                      2682 E. Main St.
Ventura, CA 93001                                                                            Ventura, CA 93003
(805) [phone redacted]                                                                                   (805) [phone redacted]
www.bankofbooks.com (10% discount)                                [email redacted]