Across from the movie theater in downtown Lodi on School Street are the big storefront windows of “Tom’s Used Books,”where it’s likely you’ll find cats lounging around on the many bookshelves lining the length of the shop.
The store has been open since 1996, owned and operated by Tom Kohlhepp, where it was originally called “Tom’s Books” electing to call it what it was.
Slowly over time, as the business has grown, with its large array of used books, so has the name.
“Well I always want to have three or four different versions of your dream, you know, in case one goes wrong,” said Kohlhepp.
Kohlhepp said over time there’s been one piece of advice that always stayed with him since his shop first opened.
“Get rid of the junk,” Getty said a bookseller from Stockton told him.
It’s why his shop stays full of used books, categorized by genres, and other specifics. The shop plays host to a myriad of previously owned books people have given to the shop.
“It accumulates, books deteriorate, and so I’ve been doing that everyday, they’re in pretty good shape,” said Kohlhepp.
Even with a shop overflowing with its unique selection of books, Kohlhepp said the most rewarding part of it all is getting the chance to interact with different people day to day.
“People I would never ever meet out in the world, if I didn’t have this store I would never ever meet these people, from all walks and all professions and government agencies and stuff. And I can sit and I can chat with them, it’s nice to talk to somebody who’s intelligent and educated and that happens all the time around here,” said Kohlhepp.
Because he’s been open so long he’s been able to collect multiple of the same books, storing them down below in the basement. This gives Kohlhepp the ability to refill sections in the shop, keep the shelves plentiful, and satisfy customer needs. The most recent venture to the basement brought up more copies of John Grisham, and restocked the shelves.
LISTEN TO TOM TALK ABOUT HIS FAVORITE BOOK
One of Tom’s employees, Samantha Suarez, elaborated on her experience when she began working at the bookstore. “Once I first started I didn’t really know much about how things
worked around the store, but after working a lot and trying to figure it out I was able to get it,” said Suarez.
The store is also known for its feline tenants. Upon walking through the door you may find a cat lounging on the cat tree behind the desk, sleeping on book piles, high on the shelves, or curiously observing the customers around their feet.
“I love working here not only because I get to work with the cats, but I also get to work with people and find a specific book they’re looking for, and also recommend new books we have in the store,” said Joel Anderson, a bookstore employee. This sentiment was shared by both of the employees, when asked what their favorite part of working at the bookstore was.
“I’d say the cats, I really love the cats,” said Suarez.
Kohlhepp’s store is built upon the community that he’s curated over the last 28 years. Combining his and the customers love for reading and a cozy place where they can share a conversation.
“And 28 years has been a while, it’s like a real bookstore now,” said Kohlhepp.