Mysterious Galaxy Opens Second Store

Last Tuesday, Mysterious Galaxy’s new Redondo Beach, California, store opened its doors to readers for the first time. The bookstore is enjoying a few weeks of a “soft” opening, said co-owner Maryelizabeth Hart, which gives staff members the time to fine-tune inventory and get acquainted with the community. Mysterious Galaxy announced its plans to open in Redondo Beach in February.

“We have had a very warm welcome from the community and are pleased that business has been steady since the first few hours we were open,” said Hart, who attributed much of the store’s immediate success to Redondo Beach Manager LeAnna Herrera. On opening day, Herrera arranged for several different local food trucks to set up in the store’s parking lot to allow visitors to “Read and Feed” from breakfast through early evening.

Redondo Beach was a natural choice for the new location because co-owner Terry Gilman, who lives in the area, had already built a following for the store through successful events, such as Mysterious Galaxy’s “Ladies, Lunch, and Literacy” book-and-author series, which launched in 2008, Hart told BTW in February.

Mysterious Galaxy’s San Diego location specializes in the mystery, science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, and horror genres. The Redondo Beach store will carry much of the same type of inventory, along with more literary fiction, and some titles handpicked by Gilman.

Mysterious Galaxy staff "Read and Feed" at the new store's soft opening.

Mysterious Galaxy has been publicizing its new location through its print and electronic newsletter, and it has received positive coverage from many of the area’s local papers. News of the opening is also spreading through word of mouth. “At least one reader came in on Tuesday because she saw a friend’s post on Facebook saying that she had visited and the doors were open,” said Hart.

“We have also been delighted to have the support of the greater book community, including a number of publishers’ representatives and other publishing professionals, and our fellow indie booksellers, Books Inc. and Changing Hands.”

Grand opening events will begin in mid-October, and run through mid-November. The store will be hosting more than 50 authors, special genre-focused events, and writing workshops. Authors scheduled to visit during the store’s grand opening month include Lawrence Block, Orson Scott Card, Charlaine Harris, Kathy Reichs, Laini Taylor, and F. Paul Wilson.

“We are tremendously excited,” said Hart, “and thankful to have so many great opportunities for book lovers in the South Bay to meet fabulous authors!”