Historic Folsom is a town full of shops that offer a unique shopping experience and a sense of community. It'd been a few years since I'd spent time in the Historic District of Folsom, so I was excited to see old favorites and make new ones. As far as new choices go, my new favorite found that day is Ruby’s Books! This delightful, magical, welcoming, comprehensive, mindful bookstore has an official greeter named Ruby. Ruby is a seven-year-old Golden Retriever who takes "well-behaved" to a whole new level. Between Ruby's presence and the intelligent way Ruby's Books is put together, this place is a book lover's dream come true. Read on to learn why.
Dog Man Nabs Me Again!
Dav Pilkey's Dog Man series is a must for anyone who knows a young reader who enjoys excellent humor. I first learned about it when my six-year-old insisted on reading me his latest Dog Man book, and while reading, he would laugh so hard he had to stop reading to catch his breath. The genius is the element of irony that even young kids can pick up on. As I was walking past Ruby’s Books, I glanced at a poster announcing the newest release of Dog Man, so I got super excited over that. But then, almost simultaneously, I saw Ruby sitting just inside the store's door, gently wagging her tail but not making any elaborate fuss to get me to pet her.
Well, who can resist that? Ruby is to Ruby's Books what Micky Mouse is to Disneyland. After being doused heavily with Ruby's fairy dust of charm, I noticed the whole shop is a bit magical. It's spacious with nooks of coziness. Books are abundant but displayed in a way that requires no effort to look through each selection and collection. Ruby’s Books provides the perfect space to simultaneously feel stimulated, uplifted, and welcomed.
Ruby's Books Is a Community
One of the benchmarks of a great bookstore is that all aspects flow together with the same vibe. Ruby’s Books has this feel about it that makes you want to talk to others while browsing through books. It’s the kind of place where all the staff is pleasant, appear to enjoy their jobs, and are so approachable that you feel like you have friends there.
A display announcing what Ruby's Staff are reading is located close to the entryway. On another wall is a tastefully designed blackboard with all the latest things going on at Ruby's Books. This blackboard provides an organized, fun visual of what you can participate in at Ruby’s Books. Among those things is an Unbook Club which invites people to come in for a chat about whatever they're reading. There's something called Cook the Book, which is like a book club for those wanting to take a deep dive into the "cookbook of the month ." For those wishing to enjoy books while making new friends, Ruby's Books partners with Red Bus Brewing Company on the first Tuesday of the month so that you can sip a great beer while talking about books.
Everything found in this bookstore provides an outstanding balance of fun and care for the more serious side of reading. One table's collection is devoted to embracing equity. On it are books about women's role in history, how to promote a strong sense of self in our daughters, and famous books written by women that have served to open minds. Ruby's Books carries fun greeting cards, bookmarks, and reading lights and has gift cards available for the person who has everything. That's just one example of how mindfully stocked this wonderful bookstore is. Ruby's books is more than a great bookstore; it's a place to buy gifts for the book lover in your life.
Store with a Heart
As I said, Ruby's Books strives to be a community and gives back to the community. One of its main goals is to form partnerships with educators and schools so that high-quality books make it into homes, classrooms, and libraries. Ruby’s Books works with school districts to accept district purchase orders with a minimum 20% discount. There's a 15% discount for teachers and librarians even when making personal purchases. And Ruby’s Books maintains a Teacher Wishlist. Anyone wanting to support a classroom can check out what the teachers' need. Ruby’s Books also helps support fundraising efforts at local schools by providing In-Store Spirit Nights and Bookfairs. Ruby’s Books is a proud participant of Independent Bookstore Day, which this year is held on April 29th.
I'll leave you with this one final invitation. On March 26th, Ruby turns eight years young! Her party starts at 11:30 with a reading of all the birthday cards given to her, a story reading, treats, and of course, singing Happy Birthday to Ruby! Ruby’s Books is an incredible place to visit and shop. Please be sure to put it on your list of "must-do when in the charming town of Historic Folsom."
Now let’s talk about books in general. If you're like me, I have books I never want to let go. Some were unique gifts, others were favorites, and I even own two first-edition books I know will be valuable one day. For the books I know I won't be reading anytime soon, but will never part with, self-storage is a perfect way to keep my books safe. At Green Valley Road Self Storage, we have units in all sizes, so finding one to store your beloved book collection safely won't be a problem. Please stop by our state-of-the-art self-storage facility and let us show you how easy and affordable it is to protect your investment. We hope to see you soon!
Ruby's Books is located at 724 Sutter Street
Folsom CA 55630
(916) 790-8760
Hours of Operation: Monday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
https://Ruby'sfolsom.com/
