In the two years since Alibi Bookshop has opened (save a five-month shutdown due to COVID-19), the used and new bookstore has emerged as a bright spot in downtown Vallejo.
Owners Jon Burchard and his wife, Karen Finlay, moved to Vallejo a few years ago and fell in love with the city. When the bookstore became available for purchase on Marin Street, Finlay jumped at the opportunity to pour all of her experience in the publishing industry into a place that celebrates her favorite authors — chief of which is Dorothy Parker.
Parker once said, “Four things I’d have been better without: Love, curiosity, freckles and doubt.”
For Finlay, she’s just fine with love and curiosity. After all, isn’t that what reading is all about? She’s probably also OK with freckles.
But when the pandemic hit, she, like all small business owners, dealt with doubt. Doubt that the store would be able to weather the downtime, doubt that the momentum she and Jon had created with their shop could continue amidst the interruption. And then there was the realization that her arch-nemesis — Amazon — could further erode the sales of locally-owned, independent booksellers.
But Alibi is back now and in full swing. And, fittingly, Saturday is Independent Bookstore Day, when people all over the country celebrate small booksellers who are trying to make a difference in their towns.
“It’s a great way to come and celebrate an independent book store instead of shopping at Amazon,” says Finlay. “And revenue goes to Vallejo and Solano County.”
Finlay, who has pink hair, vintage cats-eye glasses and an exuberance for her work, is proud to offer something that the internet cannot: An in-person, well-read cheerleader for books.
On a recent Wednesday, several regulars came into the store. An 11-year-old girl and her mom from American Canyon picked up some YA (young adult) books and a man who always shops the coffee-table books on aesthetics was on hand. Another woman walked out with an armful, and Finlay has been helping her for so long that she knew which books to steer her to. Karen could be overheard chattering with each of them.
“I love that book so much, I’m so glad you liked it! … Oh that book is super inspiring! It’s so awesome!” and “Oh, I just loved her insight as well!” about the Michelle Obama book, “Becoming”.
A customer named Jonathan held up a cookbook, “Cook Real Hawaii,” and exclaimed, “This is why I love your store! You have stuff I don’t see anywhere else!’
“I swear I didn’t pay him to say that,” Finlay quips.
As the store has progressed, Burchard and Finlay have taken the customers’ lead on what to stock. Manga is very popular, as are graphic novels, so those sections have grown. The same goes for books for young people, from toddlers through teens.
“More young men and women are coming in and buying books and that is really exciting,” she said. “But I really miss story hour for the little ones. They hope to bring it back once more people can gather in the store.”
Finlay says that she has seen women come in pregnant, then with their babies, and now she’d like to see the toddlers sit in the children’s section to hear a picture book read to them.
One thing that continued apace during the pandemic was the store’s monthly book club, which met over Zoom. She even brought in people from other states.
“It’s been really consistent,” she says. “We still have people showing up every month and having really good, thoughtful discussions.”
But anyone who knows Finlay knows she can really throw a party. Normally she would have grand plans for Independent Bookstore Day, complete with food, authors, and probably even champagne.
“We can’t do the big party we wanted to, so we are putting it on hold for next year,” she said. But they will be holding raffles and giving away books, T-shirts, tote bags, gifts, gift certificates, and signed editions of books, such as a title by Nigella Lawson.
“We also have a special Stephen King short story that’s never been published in book form before,” she said.
Alibi Bookshop will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, better known as Independent Bookstore Day. The shop is located at 624 Marin St. in Vallejo. Visit their Facebook page, or go to their website, alibibookshop.com to learn more about their store and the book club.