In Bloom Bookery — Local services in Temecula

I was really excited when I heard this bookstore was opening, so I made sure to attend the grand opening even though I now live in Orange County. I waited in line for 2 hours and an additional hour and a half inside for checkout. I didn’t mind, though, as the owner’s husband was very kind, and I love supporting local businesses.

Today, while back in town, I stopped by with a tote bag I purchased there. Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the lack of interaction. The owner didn’t greet me, even though the store was nearly empty, with only one employee and one other customer. Instead, I overheard her having a brief conversation with the employee about receipt paper. I tried to brush it off and continued looking for my size in an item, but I was never acknowledged. What hurt the most was when she greeted other guests as I moved to the back.

As a person of color in Temecula, experiences like this make you question whether the lack of acknowledgment is because you look different. Whatever the reason, I left feeling unwelcome and will be taking my business elsewhere. I hope the owner understands that, especially as a new business, kindness goes a long way. No matter how cute the store is, being rude just once can cost...

What a super sweet romance bookstore! It's in Old Town Temecula on Main Street off Front (great location!), and opened only two months ago! My husband and I popped in to check it out while in Old Town on a recent Friday afternoon, and the place was packed! The store is beautifully laid out, with friendly staff, well-labeled shelves and lots of tote bags, stationary, puzzles and more.

And what's not to love their About Us statement: "Welcome to In Bloom Bookery, a romance bookstore where stories of love, connection, and personal growth take center stage. At In Bloom, we believe that romance is for everyone, regardless of gender or background. Our shelves are filled with carefully curated romance novels that celebrate diverse voices, strong characters, and powerful stories that resonate with all readers. Our mission is to create a welcoming space where readers can explore the transformative power of love stories."...

This is such a unique, and adorable, little (quite a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be, actually!) boutique book store in Old Town Temecula! It is so refreshing to have a smaller, locally owned, book store to browse, AND it is solely focused on ROMANCE. What more could we want? They did a wonderful job decorating the space, it is very cute and aesthetically pleasing, and the organization is easy to follow (it was not overwhelming trying to find specific books you were looking for, and they did a great job at spotlighting certain popular titles). This will definitely be a regular spot I visit, especially when I am in the market for some new reads! (P.S., can I just say, I loved walking in and hearing all of the conversations happening around reading, books, stories - I want more of that vibe!!) (P.P.S, the owners are so...