Who We Are
The Bookery has been providing unique and relevant used books to Placerville and our surrounding areas and visitors for over forty years. Partners Nancy Dunk, Heather Beatty Spring, and Darin Coelho Spring believe in the power of the tangible book to open minds, encourage conversation, and create community. We cherish our customers and strive to curate an ever-evolving collection of used and new books. Well into the digital age, the Bookery continues to serve as a bustling hub of old fashioned and tactile pleasures: a place to slow down and browse aisles upon aisles of books.
History:
Purchased by Nancy Dunk and Celia Lux in September 1983, the bookshop soon moved to its current location, 326 Main Street, Placerville, which previously housed the historic and well-loved Blue Bell Café. Celia retired in 2021, and Darin and Heather took over her part of the partnership alongside Nancy, working together in hopes of keeping the store running for decades to come!
We have sections for all interests and subjects. We specialize in Western American and Gold Rush History. Weird fiction and poetry lovers will also be sure to find interesting common and collectible titles. We also have a selection of vinyl records curated by Brian Lux.
We see the Bookery as a symbol of community, hard work, and dedication, a place where people can relax, where the pressures of our ever-changing world can be put on hold, and visitors can enjoy the presence of good people and the timeless joy of a good book in your hands.
Darin Coelho Spring
I’m Darin and I will be shipping orders from this website. You can also find me in the store most days. Make sure and talk to me about California literature, poetry, sci-fi, antiquarian books or anything strange and outré. My favorite genre is Weird fiction and poetry and I’m the filmmaker of Clark Ashton Smith: The Emperor of Dreams, feature-length documentary about legendary Auburn writer and artist. The film was released on DVD and Bluray by Hippocampus Press in 2018.
Our Community
Placerville is a charming Gold Rush town with many historic buildings lining its inviting Main Street. We pride ourselves on our community feeling and hospitality. You can’t miss the historic Bell Tower, which stands as a monument to the city’s volunteer firemen and now serves as a gathering place for parades and events.
Don’t forget to stop by Placerville Hardware, known as the “oldest hardware store west of the Mississippi.” Just a few doors down from Bookery, in the cozy courtyard of the Cary House Hotel, you can find incredible artisanal coffee at Pachamama Coffee. A few of our other favorite eateries include: Placerville Public House for a grand selection of brews on tap and delicious pizzas, Old Town Grill for the world’s best burgers, Timmy’s Brown Bag for creative sandwiches.
Our town also boasts several unique vintage shops, inspiring art galleries, and antique shops full of treasures.