By: Adrianna Weldon
Located in the heart of historic Riverside, the Happy Medium Books Cafe offers a cozy atmosphere for customers the moment they walk in. It is a place where the community can come together and share their mutual interests in reading. With a boundless array of books, a rich aroma of freshly roasted coffee in the air, and friendly staff ready to welcome you, whether you’re a regular or new, the place will make you feel right at home.
“We have a good amount of regulars that I love,” said Isabella Puskas, an employee, “But also the new people that come in every day that you see and get to talk about, not only books, but other media. I have a good time interacting with people here.”
The store sells a variety of books for customers to enjoy, with a particular focus on collecting books in pristine condition to books with some wear and tear. This allows the store to cater to a wider customer base with diverse picks as well as giving some books a second life for a person to enjoy. The store also makes sure to present options for customers to choose from, from banned books to staff picks, there is something for everyone.
“We have new and used books and we also have children’s and adult’s and teens books,” said Puskas. “I also love the used books because we rely heavily on donations so it’s nice to see what everyone is reading, what they’re giving away.”
The store’s cafe provides a spectrum of cafe goods including baked pastries, savory bites, customizable coffee drinks, chai, and matcha. They offer gluten-free and vegan options so that everyone can enjoy a taste. Their most famous cafe goods is their banana bread, with many customers coming to the cafe to get a bite of the pastry.
According to the store owner, Dana Shutters, “There are many treats at the cafe I enjoy but what we’re most known for is our banana bread. We have a lot of customers flocking in just for the bread and it can quickly sell out.
The store doesn’t just offer books to read to sweets to eat, to bring the community closer than ever, it involves as many people as possible. In coordination with the Jacksonville Artists Guild (JAG), the store will hang art pieces from local artists on their walls for customers to appreciate, switching out every 3 months so that everyone has a chance. They also work with local authors to put their books on the shelves, helping them gain recognition and contribute to the Northeast Florida creative scene.
The store also hosts engaging events every week for customers to participate in. From yarning to painting pottery to book trivia to book clubs, there is never a dull time. No matter the event, there is almost always a full house with no empty seats in sight and an exciting atmosphere in the air.
“It’s very much a community bookstore,” said Shutters. “In the short time it existed, I saw it was valuable to the community as a beneficial third space with people coming out of their houses. The community has embraced us with events probably 3 times a week.”
For more information on the Happy Medium Books Cafe, check them out on their Instagram at @happy_medium_books or their website happymediumbookscafe.com.