Cellar Door Bookstore — Local services in Riverside

I’m currently healing from a traumatic brain injury and have found refuge in audiobooks. So I was so excited to find that cellar door has various book clubs! I checked out their calendar, spoke to a gentleman on the phone and got myself ready for July’s Bookclubs!

Wanting to check out their Feminist, Diverse Romance, and Latinx Bookclubs, I spent the last month reading The Lost Journals of Sacajewea, Before I Let Go, and Velvet was the Night. I figured I’d check out which club I connected with the most.

I went to attend the Feminist Book Club on 7/2, but the store was closed. Weird but discovered their AC was broken and had moved all their Bookclubs to zoom meetings. Totally understandable! When I asked if I could receive the zoom links for the Diverse Romance&LatinX Bookclubs - I was denied. I guess I couldn’t receive the zoom links unless I purchased the actual book from Cellar Books. :(

There was no mention of this during my initial phone call, nor online. I feel like I was blindsided. Especially because I spent the last month getting on my library’s waitlist, using my audible credits, and actually getting through the books in preparation for the month of July. I currently can’t read physical books because of my TBI vision struggles and I’ve opted for an audible annual membership. I tried to explaining my circumstances and was even planning on purchasing future bookclub books once I checked out the clubs. It would be amazing to support a local bookstore. But there was no budging. My husband seeing how defeated i felt, even tried contacting the bookstore just to try to convince them, but no luck. He was even just going to purchase the books/audio membership just so I could attend the remaining book clubs in July but I told him not to spend the money. Why would I invest in them when they weren’t willing to open doors?

And I know it’s not a big deal to them but for me it was: I’ve spent the last couple of years in dark rooms, not being able to speak, drive, dress myself, watch tv, go out in the sun, work, dance and live the active and vibrant lifestyle I once had. Audiobooks have literally saved me and it wasn’t until recently that I’ve felt physically able to finally put myself out there and maybe join a bookclub. Meeting so many barriers with Cellar Doors just sucked all around.

Btw, the female front desk person- her people skills need work.

Also, please update your bookclub page online. There was no mention that all Bookclubs had moved to zoom on the actual...

As soon as I walk in I am greeted by a fully masked older woman immediately saying I need a mask(no choice). This wasn’t so much a polite gesture either almost very unwelcoming otherwise. I asked a simple question if their bookstore was a discounted bookstore, such as Bookoff which is a really great place, and the employees response again was very crude and uncomfortable. If you have the option just go to Barnes and Noble they will have more options for the same price without all the unnecessary rules that this owner seems to dictate that’s not even in accordance with current requirements from the health administration just their own rules in which may be the downfall of this place due to the ways in which they act towards you. And I’m not against wearing a mask, I would of put it on, but I’m not used to stores requiring it now days so I asked if she had one since they are imposing their own rules and again this lady directed me to buy one at the Rite Aid next door. Very ridiculous behavior and I usually don’t invest time to make reviews but this is my constructive criticism in which hopefully they do benefit and utilize so they may change how they treat people at first glance. And here I was excited to enter a book store because I love reading, headed to Barnes...

I hate to actually let people know about this perfect gem, for fear it will become crowded and busy all the time. Likely, though, were that to happen the wonderful owner would adjust! Speaking of the owner — she is one of those rare small business owners who really is invested in her community and cares about each, individual customer as a human not a dollar amount. There are regular and featured events at the store that connect the customer to the community and to the collective of reading and knowledge. And there are happenings for all kinds of readers — regular book discussion groups by theme; book signings and author talks; themed author events; community themed events; lots of kid activities; there are even scheduled times where customers are encouraged to come in and read quietly (no purchase necessary)!

It’s a beautiful, calm, friendly little store in the pretty Canyon Crest Towncenter near the University of Cal, Riverside. You can browse from a nice variety of current books (their teen and children’s section is fantastic!). If they don’t have a book you want, they’ll order anything they can find, and the staff are all real book lovers, so...