The Avid Reader

The Avid Reader opened under that name in Davis on January 5, 1987. A Davis Enterprise history explains that Alzada Knickerbocker bought Orpheus Books on E Street and renamed the business. The shop later moved to 617 Second Street, the address also given in the newspaper’s 2025 profile. That later report identifies Erin and Brett Arnold as owners, so the founder’s story should not be mistaken for a current ownership claim. Books remain the reason to visit, with author appearances forming part of the shop’s documented programme. The 2025 coverage describes visits by writers including Karen Joy Fowler and Mac Barnett during the preceding year. Those appearances are history, not an event schedule for a future trip. The two reports together show a neighbourhood bookseller with a changing programme rather than a fixed literary attraction. Before travelling for a particular author or title, confirm the current event listing or availability with the shop. The newspaper’s readers’ award records a specific vote, not a universal ranking of bookshops.