OJAI : Earthling Books Plans a New Store

The owners of Earthling Books in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo have targeted downtown Ojai for the third store in their chain of cafe-bookshops that offer fireside entertainment ranging from belly dancing to Mozart.

“We went to the library and found out that more people hold library cards in that valley than anywhere else in the county,” said Penny Davies, who owns the shops with her husband, Terry. “That means more readers.”

Ojai Planning Commission Chairwoman Ruth George, who reviewed the project at the commission meeting late Wednesday, said the plans to renovate the former Bank of America building at 307 E. Ojai Ave. would be an asset to the city.

But some nearby book retailers worry about the competition and its impact on the close-knit community.

“It’s a tight little town,” said Mintee Duque, owner of the Table of Contents bookstore in Ojai. “Allowing the bigger businesses in would change the character of the town.”

The owner of Bart’s Books, however, said he was not concerned with Earthling Books moving into Ojai.

“I go to the Earthling in Santa Barbara all the time,” said Gary Schlichter, who specializes in used books. “But I was surprised when I heard they were coming to town. It could have some effect on my business.”

Earthling’s Penny Davies said her other shops have become gathering places for the residents of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, offering food and drink and providing readings, concerts and other cultural events nightly.

“We’re asking for permission to put in a mezzanine and expand the back area for a receiving room,” said Davies.

The new store will generate 25 new full-time jobs for the community when it opens next spring, Davies said.