I visited a new Modesto bookstore and coffee shop with a $20 budget. Here’s what I got
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Call me basic all you want, but I can’t start my day without a cup of coffee in hand. It’s my lifeline until sundown. As the day winds down, you’ll find me with a book in hand.
Coffee and books? Put them together, and I’m all in.
When I first read about Modesto welcoming Bookish, a locally owned bookstore with a coffee shop inside, I couldn’t resist stepping into the store that felt tailor-made for me.
The bookstore — which sells canned drinks and plans to serve fresh coffee soon — officially opened in Roseburg Square at 811 W. Roseburg Ave. on Thursday, April 4.
With a $20 budget in mind, I decided to see what was behind the “Friends”-themed door on Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what I got:
How much are books at Bookish in Modesto?
As I usually do when exploring somewhere new, I scrolled through Bookish’s Instagram and website to envision the adventure that lied ahead.
The word “indie” immediately caught my attention. I suddenly felt the need to look a certain type of cool for my visit.
To my surprise, people of all styles were behind the door.
A father and his daughter colored in the children’s section, teenagers sporting the latest trends browsed through books and older adults admired the trinkets on the shelves.
The air felt warm and welcoming.
There was an endless array of shelves stocked with a variety of books. Each one was divided into sections featuring different genres, including memoirs, fantasy, romance and mystery.
Authors ranged from Jenny Han, a romance writer known for the “The Summer I Turned Pretty” series, to Harper Lee, who wrote American classic “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
I hate to play into a Gen Z cliché, but I felt like the main character sifting through books as Taylor Swift played in the background.
Prices for new books ranged from $12 to $40, depending on the edition and author.
Though I wanted to buy a book by my latest favorite author, fantasy writer Sarah J. Maas, each book was about $18 to $20.
I couldn’t help but check Amazon and Barnes and Noble to see if I could find them cheaper somewhere else. Surprisingly, prices were about the same at the other two retailers, not including shipping and handling.
Rather than spending my entire budget on a book, I continued to look for used titles, which were mixed into the shelves with new releases.
Pro tip: The store accepts used books for store credit or by donation.
Prices for used books start at $2, not including sales tax.
The price tags on used books show the original price and Bookish’s price, which is about 50% off.
After making several rounds around the store, I eventually found myself in the local authors section.
I made the decision to get mystery novel “The Drowning Girls” by Paula Treick DeBoard, who studied at the University of California, Merced, and has written three other fiction novels. It was on sale for $12.
Pro tip: Need help picking out a book? Staff picks are all around the store.
Other items for sale at Bookish
While looking through books, I had budgeted for a coffee and a little keepsake.
Unfortunately, an employee informed me that the coffee cart is temporarily closed while the business waits on a permit.
Since I had spent about an hour shopping, I had become parched. Luckily, there were snacks and drinks available to purchase.
Snacks included chips, cookies, nuts and popcorn. Drinks included canned teas, coffee and sparkling water. Prices varied from $1.50 to $3.50, not including taxes.
Though I was tempted to grab a canned mocha latte, my eyes gravitated toward the visually aesthetic blueberry jasmine tea for $2.50.
This put my total at $14.50.
The store sells various trinkets, starting at $2, including:
Bookmarks
Stickers
Pens
Journals
Coloring books
Socks
Hats
Totes
Pins
T-shirts
Mugs
Handmade goods
Board games
The most expensive thing I found was a handmade stuffed animal priced at $40.
Pro tip: There are free stickers hidden on a shelf.
I settled on a medium-sized sticker of a typewriter for $4, because I’m a writer (duh).
When I went to checkout my three items, the employee told me I had made “some good choices.”
“This book is actually written by our store owner,” she said.
The store owner, standing beside her, nodded in approval. I stood in disbelief, because what were the odds? The book I had chosen happened to be written by the store owner herself, Paula Treick DeBoard.
With a total of $18.50 plus $1.64 in tax, I had gone over the $20 by 14 cents. However, considering the vibes and the experience of meeting the author of the book, I’d say it was worth every extra penny.
Pro tip: With each purchase, customers receive a handy flier that serves as a bookmark and provides a special code. This code grants them access to one complimentary audiobook when they join the Bookish membership program.
Where should I go next?
Have any ideas on where I should visit next in Modesto on a budget?
Send me recommendations at arodriguez@modbee.com or by filling out the form below.
What do you want to know about life in Modesto? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@modbee.com.
