Located on the corner of South Santa Cruz and East Main street in Ventura, California, there is a quaint book shop that everyone should visit. Timbre was first established in October 2020 by owners Kyle and Megan Murai, a local couple who live in Ventura. 

The bookstores name is often pronounced “Tim-ber” which is actually incorrect, according to Kimmy Rice, the frontline bookseller (one of the main positions as a bookseller, frontline booksellers handle customer service, manage inventory, review books, and are the main worker on the floor) at Timbre, who shared the meaning behind the bookstore’s name. 

“Timbre is actually pronounced [Tam-ber]; it is a music term for the sound of a [music] note or tone. It [represents] the unique quality of each book,” said Rice.

When entering, Timbre offers a soft and inviting atmosphere with its uplifting music, decorations and eye-catching displays. Many of the shelves include recommendation notes from the staff, as well as regularly updated display tables. On one shelf, you will find new book releases and on another display you will find “Read the Room” which includes books covering current events. 

There is a wide variety of genres available with even a separate section just for Ventura’s youngest readers, complete with kids books and tables to sit at. 

“I think the books we have available here really speak to this community in particular and just Ventura in general. Our curation [and] the books we have here are relevant to the community, whereas you are not going to get that curation elsewhere,” Rice said. 

Not only does Timbre sell books, but the business contributes to the community in many other ways, such as giving back to the community by hosting book clubs, providing a third space for anything even if it doesn’t have to do with a book or picking up a new one. They also donate to and partner with local organizations to enrich the community. Most recently, Timbre has helped out with a food drive held within their establishment. 

Another factor that makes Timbre unique from chain bookstores is the involvement of the staff, and their assistance in the selections of book to house. All employees are dedicated book lovers, which makes both the curation of books and the customer’s experience more organic. 

“We know the community, we know the people, and we know what stories they would like to read. Nothing beats that in person interaction,” Rice said.

Since the staff in Timbre are so dedicated to their jobs, they write about their experience in many of the books you’ll see on the shelves, which creates an enjoyable experience for customers that love to visit often becoming life long consumers.

Michelle, a frequent customer at Timbre shared that she would recommend others to visit as it is not only supporting a small business but also “[it’s] local and independent, [and it has a] curated selection with [insightful] recommendations from staff.” 

Next time you’re downtown, check out Timbre’s extensive collection while enjoying a cafe drink from Singing Sun, a charming coffee shop perfectly nearby, only a few buildings down, and always try to support local businesses like the Murai’s bookstore. 

“It’s really important to support local businesses and smaller, independent bookstores. It’s so important for creating community, and I think that’s something we really need right now,” Rice said.