Brownsville bookstore celebrates its 10th anniversar y

A foothills bookstore and gathering place is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a major renovation and open house set for May 27.

Retired Yuba Feather Elementary School teacher Yvonne Scroggs started the Brownsville bookstore, Books & More, so residents and visitors could find something to read, but it developed into a cultural hub serving the foothill community.

“We’ve got hundreds of books,” Scroggs said. “A crew of about six or eight volunteers runs the place.”

The store boasts having all types of books, from genre-series to classics, and has rooms filled with literature for people to browse. Crafting, cookbooks, critically acclaimed literary works and best sellers are also among the offerings. WHAT: WHEN: WHERE:

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Over the years, Scroggs said the business has welcomed and fostered groups.

“We’ve got a couple of book clubs that meet here and other groups can use the room as a study group,” Scroggs said. “There’s a listening lounge where three or four people can get together with musical instruments.”

She said the intent is to connect foothill residents and other guests in a common place.

“I like to make connections,” Scroggs said. “One of our writing groups is an author’s club, and one of the members recently published a book. You can see how much work it takes to write a book and appreciate what it takes to get it published.”

There’s a study area for students and serious readers as well as free Wi-Fi.

And some changes are coming by way of an expansion project to the Willow Glen Road operation.

“In all, the expanded bookstore will cover 11 rooms plus a shaded outdoor patio and garden and Welcome Center,” according to a press release. “Wandering through the store and browsing the cubbies is always a treasure hunt for the perfect book or gift.”

Scroggs said the surprise visits by guests can be interesting as well.

“Last week, we had a person drop in who looked scruffy with a German accent who said he always wanted to learn English,” she said. “The teacher in me perked up, and I gave him some books to read.”