It was a strange year, 2020. Thankfully, during the interlude of lockdown riots and “protesting,” Maxwell’s House of Books survived, the owner standing watch through the night, ready to defend his business as the community changed — by way of fire. Others were far less fortunate.
Within the downtown village of La Mesa, California, where the bookstore and a number of other small businesses survived, Union Bank did not; it was burned to the proverbial ground, twisted metal and charred earth bearing witness to the violence — but the books of our landmark institution were spared.
And so it was that a bookstore endured, avoiding the wrath and chaos of fire, standing watch to usher in the next phase of our history. The symbolism is compelling.
San Diego is not famous for book life, being more of a beach town, a destination for umbrella drinks and peach-infused craft beers, food festivals and pulsating dance clubs. However, if one searches beyond the attractions of our historic Gaslamp District, and the crowded sands of La Jolla and Pacific Beach, a handful of wonderful bookstores can be discovered, Maxwell’s House of Books being one of my cherished favorites. Visiting is always something of an event.
After passing the sale carts at the store’s entrance, where hidden treasures abound, one is greeted by the familiar fragrance of old books and, quite happily, a cat named Rorschach. In my estimation, every bookstore needs a mascot. After crossing the threshold, and spending a few pleasant moments with the cat, you enter a realm of literary criticism, history, poetry, architecture and fiction, a collection of books carefully selected by the owner, Craig Maxwell.
On any given day, you can find him sorting through boxes, as his assistant conducts her research and cataloging activities. If you are a bibliophile, this is indeed your Shangri-La, right here in the relentless sun and fun of San Diego, California. Now that I am retired from patrol life, and have a flexible schedule, I hope to conduct an interview with Mr. Maxwell in the coming weeks. His store has a rich history and a promising future.