The Understory, an all-ages, general-interest bookstore, opened earlier this summer in Tahoe City, Calif., the Sierra Sun reported.
The bookstore, which carries new and used titles, occupies a 645-square-foot space at 945 N. Lake Blvd. The location is partly underground, giving the bookstore its name, and includes a room called the Fireplace Room, which provides space for events and for customers to sit and read. Understory's event offerings include storytimes, postcard writing parties, and book clubs; the store will host its first author signing at an off-site location on September 29.
Owner Annie Stefani told the Sierra Sun that people in Tahoe City "have been really craving a bookstore," and a few months after opening, the bookstore is increasingly becoming a third space. "It creates another touchpoint or gathering space for people to come together over a shared love of something."
Prior to opening the Understory, Stefani had a career in education: she was a high school teacher for 20 years, and spent five years as a school librarian. She also runs a company called Wonderwood Books that helps individuals and organizations create and curate their own libraries.
Stefani first thought about opening a bookstore while looking for space for Wonderwood Books, and she decided to take the plunge. Per the Sierra Sun, the Understory is the first bookstore to open in the North Tahoe region since the closure of an indie bookstore called the Bookshelf in 2012.