Business & Tech

Book Store Offers Cozy Meeting Place

At least a dozen poets gathered Friday night at Bank of Books for a poetry reading, one of many events that have packed the bookstore and coffee house.

Tucked away at the Point Dume Village, Ann Lambert Vannoy hopes Bank of Books in Malibu becomes a place where Malibu residents can come together to enjoy books and a cup of coffee as well as find community.

"The community can be fragmented because people come here to get away and I don't blame them, but when you want to have community, where is it? Especially in this part of Malibu," said Lambert Vannoy, a retired teacher at Juan Cabrillo Elementary.

Vannoy, a Malibu resident since 1990, is managing the shop, which opened in July, for owner Clarey Rudd, who owns several bookstores in Ventura County.

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"He's been at it so long, and his parents were book sellers. They know what they are doing," she said.

The store is newly stocked every week and features an eclectic sampling of books, including new, used, rare and collectible. The store shares a suite with Cafecito Organico, offering a cozy place to drink coffee and curl up with a book.

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Earlier this week, in between the shelves of books, several people sat in chairs with a warm drink and a book. The books range from history, travel, nonfiction, lifestyle and celebrity biographies to bestsellers, children's books and more.

In one corner, several books are locked in a cabinet across from $3 paperbacks.

"These are historical books. They are on consignment," Vannoy said.

Across the aisle, are a collection of books from the early 1900s, which start at $20.

"This is for people who think they want to collect, but they are not sure," Vannoy said.

Once a month, the store hosts "Point Dume Coffee House" featuring acoustic music.

"It's been standing room only," Vannoy said.

On Friday, at least a dozen artists took part in a poetry reading, including Malibu Mom blogger Susana Brisk.

The store is also going to have a "Late Night" once a month where the coffee shop and bookstore will remain open until 9 p.m.

"I really want kids, especially high school kids, to have a safe place to be," she said.

Bank of Books is open  Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m, and  Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Learn more at www.bankofbooks.com.


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