In Bloom Bookery, Temecula’s newest bookstore, opened to over a thousand curious book-buyers in mid-March. Guests lined up around the building for a chance to step inside, browse the shelves for romance novels from every genre, purchase merchandise to match, and meet the owner, Katie Mullin.
Inside the store, located at 42031 Main Street, Suite #C, in Old Town Temecula, you’ll find everything from women’s fiction to fantasy, science fiction, and suspense, as well as a large young adult section filled with single titles and favored tried-and-true series.
Like any book worth reading, Patch discovered there’s much more to In Bloom Bookery than meets the eye.
The boutique bookstore resulted from years of planning. While they had a harrowing few days when one location fell through, Mullin told Patch that the store on Main Street is exactly what she hoped for. For the shopkeeper who once worked at a mega-bookstore, she says this is “a dream, years in the making.”
Patch visited to learn more about the bookstore, peek at shelves stuffed with colorful titles in every romance category, and discuss the success of opening day.
“The grand opening was incredibly emotional for me, as I wasn’t expecting that huge turnout. We had such a long line. I was worried about people getting dehydrated or sunburned, so we bought and passed out sunscreen and water to those waiting to come in,” she said. “Customers waited and came inside and shopped the shelves. Some of the sections were completely cleaned out.”
Mullin said she was ordering more books as customers were leaving with arms full. Indeed, some sections — read romantic fantasy a la Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J. Maas, and others — were stripped bare.
After a few days of ordering, receiving, and reshelving the boxes of new titles, she plans to stay ahead of the inventory for her return visitors. Already, local readers are ordering books and returning for more. But, the thrill of In Bloom Bookstore isn’t just in what’s shelved here. It’s the creative space that Mullin and family have curated in Old Town.
Special events and meetups are a cornerstone of her business. Thursday night is game night, a local writer’s group plans to meet there at least once a week, and a Chick Lit book club and “Sugar and Spice” dark romance book club have sprouted here. Curious? Just ask.
When you come to In Bloom Bookery, browsing is encouraged. Twin wingback chairs bookend a faux fireplace on one wall, where you can sit and read a chapter or two. A long farm table lines another wall, where they have already held one game night. It’s a space to hang out, talk about books, and create friendships. That’s already happening, Mullin says.
“This whole space is already becoming what I dreamed of, a home base for people who love literature. I want people to know they can come here, talk about books, and share their recommendations with others, whether they love romance or not.”
Reading may be a solitary experience, but sharing what you’ve read with others can expand your enjoyment even more. If you’ve read all of Sarah J. Maas’s “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, she’ll have ideas for your next favorite read. Looking forward to that next Nora Roberts thriller? She has some others to tide you over.
“If you ask someone who their favorite author is or what their favorite book is, it’s constantly changing,” Mullin said. But when you ask someone where their favorite bookstore is, she remains hopeful that In Bloom Bookery will soon be the center of that conversation.
After all, she’s dreamed of this space since working the counter at Borders Bookstore.
“My time working at Borders is a core memory,” she said. “Customers would come in the morning for coffee, to see what was new on the new bestseller list, to order books or get book recommendations,” she said of that time. “I would work, and my husband, who was in medical school then, would be studying.”
Now, she has created that and a lot more: she’s built an approachable bookstore manned by people who genuinely love reading. Her primary focus is on prioritizing customers and listening to their suggestions.
“I want people to feel they can come and talk about books, and recommend books and develop that book-lovers’ community. I’ve noticed from my 20 years of working in books: When you ask someone what book they love, it’s rarely the same answer.” For that reason, she keeps all sorts of romance titles on her shelves.
In Mullin’s experience, running a bookstore involves watching the trends, connecting the dots, and helping people find the next great book. “When that happens, and there’s a shared moment when people start talking about a book or an author that strikes an emotional chord, it’s pure catharsis.”
So if you’re tired of sitting alone with your Kindle or Audible, scrolling to find your next read, or are looking for that Trophy Book for your shelves, head to Old Town to the In Bloom Bookery. There’s a spot for you at the table, and so many titles to look through.
“My customers are the center of my vision for the bookery,” she said. “I can make the most beautiful space, but if no one comes to it and I’m not fulfilling what they want to see, it’s all for nothing. It’s hard to make it in business, and there are a lot of ‘almost failures.’ When you have that core audience of customers, and make them feel valued, then you succeed.”
Patch suggests visiting In Bloom Bookery in Old Town Temecula and making it a must-stop on your best bookstores in California list. You can find them online at www.inbloombookstore.com or on their Instagram page @inbloombookery.
The shop is closed Monday and Tuesday and open Wednesday through Sunday with varying hours: Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
