OAKHURST — Great news for book lovers and anyone who knows the charm and versatility of Branches Books and Gifts. Soon, it’s getting bigger.
Branches will be moving to a 1,500 square-foot storefront in the Vons Shopping Center on Thursday, Sept. 1, next to Big Kahuna Yogurt and North Shore clothing.
Branches is currently located in the Junction Plaza Center near DiCiccos Restaurant at Hwy 41 and Road 426. The new, bigger space will allow the shop to expand the inventory and offer more books, educational toys and other — as Branches owner Anne Driscoll calls it — awesomeness.
“It’s going to be really gorgeous and amazing by the time we get done with it,” says Anne.
The expansion is taking place almost exactly three years after the bookstore first opened. The store has grown since then, and Anne explains she has started to run out of room for some of its most popular genres, including history, religion and mysteries.
Branches owner Anne Driscoll in the early days
“I am desperate for more space and after trying to figure something out in our current shop and center, I began seeking out some different options. The new space is going to be a great fit with double the square footage and room for more shelves — something all people obsessed with books understands,” Anne laughs.
The Branches team, including manager Shelby Collings, and booksellers Ruth Demers, Chloe Dean, and Stacie Lazarcheff, are in the planning stages of moving the store in the most efficient manner while renovations are taking place.
“We have been beyond blessed with an amazingly loyal clientele of local customers, their families and visitors to the area. People have been begging us to expand since the very beginning and while we have loved our current location, we are very excited for what the new store will provide. We are hoping for a seamless move that will take no longer than three days.”
The new address for Branches beginning in early September will be: 40044 HWY 49, Suite 1-B, Oakhurst, CA 93644. Branches website is always open & available 24/7 at www.branchesbooks.com and offers extensive book searches, a wish list feature, e-books and on-line ordering. Links to social media and newsletter sign-up are also available on that site.
About Branches Books: Branches is an independent neighborhood bookstore in Oakhurst,California whose primary goal is “to make our little community and our guests here super happy, which means carrying current best-selling books, quirky toys and gifts, cuddly plush, cards filled with silliness and hilarity and special gifts for you and yours. We are staffed by well-read, friendly booksellers and we look forward to helping you find just the right book or gift for any occasion.”
About the owner: Anne Driscoll is a member of The American Booksellers Association, Indiebound, Northern California Booksellers Association and Shelf Awareness. Anne has held a Board of Directors position on the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce since January 2015. When not working, Anne enjoys spending time with her adorable family and nurturing her slight obsession for zombie shows and dystopian novels. Anne is also a marketer, retail strategist and the founder of Build Media Marketing, a social media marketing company specializing in building brand recognition, team member education and collaborative marketing opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
