by Lorie Lewis Ham
If you are familiar with our work here at KRL, and with my mystery novels that are set in the Tower District, you know I spend as much time there as I can. So I was surprised when I found out that not only was there a bookstore in the Tower called Bookish, but that it had opened in November of 2021. To be fair, I haven’t spent as much time there since the pandemic. Once I learned about them I had to know more, so I found Bookish on Instagram and began chatting with its owner Vanessa Garabedian and that is how this interview with Vanessa came to be.
Vanessa standing outside of Bookish
After taking some time off to have a baby, Vanessa recently had a grand reopening of Bookish and I was able to stop by. The store is charming and they have a lot of plans for the future. I can’t wait to spend more time there.
KRL: Where did the store name come from?
Vanessa: We wanted to carry books & handmade book-related accessories so the name Bookish – books and other things – came to fruition. We are Bookish520 on Instagram, Facebook, Google, and Yelp pages.
KRL: Are you originally from Fresno? If not, how did you end up here?
Vanessa: Yes! Born and raised here in Fresno for over 38 years!
KRL: Do you have a background in the book industry?
Vanessa: I do not have a background in the book industry, but I have always been an avid reader and a lover of books. I worked in retail since the age of 19.
KRL: How did you end up deciding to open a bookstore and why in the Tower District?
Vanessa: The Tower District was my home in early adolescent years, and I currently reside nearby. I wanted to open up Bookish to share my love of reading with others, inspire people to read, and connect with the community and local authors.
Bookish is located at the west end of the Olive strip. It is the perfect spot, being a few blocks down from the heart of Tower. Through my bookstore, I strive to grow one of Fresno’s cherished communities.
KRL: When did you first open and what was the process from idea to opening?
Vanessa: I wanted to open a bookstore to share my love of reading with others and share the books I had acquired over the recent years. In early summer of 2021, we drove around multiple locations and found the perfect one. Lots of updates and remodeling were done including deep cleaning, adding bookshelves, acquiring inventory, and painting, over the hot summer months. It was just a few of us performing and financing the shop remodel and we were able to open by November 1, 2021.
KRL: Why do you feel that books are important?
Vanessa: Books contain the windows to knowledge and it’s so important to keep learning and growing, from infancy to adulthood. Books can expand your imagination, your vocabulary, and aid in critical thinking.
KRL: What are some of your favorite books? Favorite genres?
Vanessa: Some of my favorite books include Perfect by Judith Mcnaught, My Life So Far by Jane Fonda, and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.
Classics, Autobiographies, psychological thrillers, and historical non-fiction.
KRL: What all do you carry in your store?
Vanessa: We carry new and used like new books, children’s and vintage books along with handmade bookmarks, bookbags, mugs, and stickers. We also carry a revolving selection of media, vintage items, and graphic novels.
Bookish also carries a selection of books from a dozen local authors, with more to come!
KRL: What are your store hours since reopening?
Vanessa: Temporary store hours for most of August:
Fri /Sat/Sun 11-4. Once the fall season begins, we hope to extend the store operating hours.
Customers can stay up to date on store hours via Instagram and Facebook. 
KRL: Where are you located?
Vanessa: 520 W Olive Ave
Fresno, CA 93728
Corner of Olive & Fruit at the edge of Fresno’s Tower District
KRL: Where can people find the store online?
Vanessa: For physical books:
bookshop.org/shop/bookish520
For audio books:
Librofm.com/bookishfresno
KRL: What are your future goals for the store?
Vanessa: Future plans for Bookish include more local author booksignings, an easily accessible ordering system for new books, and expansion of our book club.
KRL: Is it family-run or do you have other employees?
Vanessa: Bookish is family-run at the moment and we hope to have employees in the future.
KRL: Anything else that you would like to add?
Vanessa: Bookish has a book club that meets once a month at the bookstore and is open to the public. When I am not at Bookish, I enjoy learning and bonding with our daughter, watching documentaries, hanging out with our dogs, drinking coffee, and gardening.
I will actually be doing a booksigning at Bookish for my latest Tower District Mystery, One of You, on Saturday, September 28 from 1-3. I will not only have copies of both books in the series to sign and sell but since One of You is set during Halloween and the event takes place just before Halloween month begins, there will also be Halloween swag and a giveaway, and I will be reading some Halloween related passages from One of You. Plus I will be bringing my replica of Excalibur!
Be sure to support this lovely little indie bookstore, both in person and online via Bookshop.org. bookshop.org/shop/bookish520
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