Blue Wolf Bookstore

Blue Wolf Bookstore, a small funky shop off Fullerton’s main drag, has an unpretentious air that hooks book lovers like the first line of a Dickens novel. And, once inside, it’s apparent this store requires more than just a casual reading.

At first, everything cries out for attention. Ornately carved Indonesian masks hang from the walls. Display racks overflow with bright hand-carved African jewelry. Stacks of yellowing newspapers and dog-eared novels cover the glass countertops, partially concealing a variety of Tarot cards for sale. The cash register clangs as its drawer pops open.

There is no room for computerized scanners here. Instead, prices (from $1 to $50) are dashed off on the inside covers of new and used books; art pieces are priced from $5 to $150.

The floors are painted with designs replicating American Indian petroglyphs and, like the name of the bookstore, reflect the owner’s interest in Indian folklore. Along the walls are ethnic clothing, candles, percussion instruments and a coffee bar.

Here, amid tall shelves filled with neatly alphabetized books, readers might discover the novels of authors such as Huntington Beach resident Elizabeth George or rediscover the works of Shakespeare, Hemingway and Getrude Stein. The crazy salad of new and used books with objets d’art may be overwhelming, but it was all by design.

“I wanted to create a place for people to read and get a good cup of coffee,” said owner Melissa Mack, who opened the bookstore five years ago. But she did not have enough volumes to open until neighborhood residents rallied behind her.

“It was fantastic,” she said. “Local residents were bringing in box upon box of well-kept used books. I still give senior citizens a one-on-one trade in the used section.”

Mack has not only managed to tap into the bookseller’s market, she is also a collector of art books and ethnic pieces. A love of art and the written word is a central theme of her store.

“When you walk into a major bookseller, the staff may not even know who Maxfield Parrish or Henry Miller is,” she said. “We not only have complete books of their respective works, we understand the composition and themes involved.”

The inventory naturally leads to the front of the store again where sections include New Age and women’s titles, as well as an extensive selection of beat generation writers’ works.

For Cal State Fullerton history major Mark Badin, the store was a welcome find. “I wandered in about three years ago,” Badin said, “and found books by Jack Kerouac and Ginsberg that I could pull right off the shelf. These were titles that the bigger bookstores would have to special order. That was enough to keep me coming back.”

Badin is one of a couple hundred devoted Blue Wolf customers. “I come here a couple of times every week,” he said. “It’s a great place to hang out and read, or meet people.”

To bring her customers together, Mack hosts monthly potluck dinners at the bookstore. “It’s like a party in here,” she said. “I don’t even realize that I’m working.”

Sundays are good days to stop by the shop for browsing. A classical guitarist performs on the patio while people play chess or dominoes beneath huge canvas umbrellas.

“There’s a real sense of community here,” Mack said. “And when you love books and love people, this is the right business to be in.”

Hours: Noon to 7 p.m., daily

Address: 118 1/2 W. Wilshire Ave., Fullerton

Telephone: (714) 441-2233

Miscellaneous Information: Public parking available adjacent to the store.