There’s something undeniably poetic about how Midnights Bookshop came to be, the kind of origin story that feels like it belongs in the pages of a well-loved novel, annotated in the margins and softly scented with wine and candle wax.
It all started with a group of women and a book club.
Over a decade ago, Dreaming While Awake was simply that, a circle of women who loved reading, gathering, and diving into lively discussions about plot twists and real-life ones alike. We met monthly, passing around dog-eared paperbacks and generous pours of wine. We celebrated promotions and our children, new homes and brave beginnings. We held space for heartbreak and loss. Through every chapter of life, the books were steady, and so were we.
What we didn’t realize then was that we were quietly building the foundation for something bigger.
Fast forward ten years.
Somewhere between late-night texts about fictional characters and whispered “what if” conversations, Selena and Amanda dared to say the dream out loud. What if Lodi had its own independent bookstore? The kind with moody lighting and shelves that feel like they’ve always existed. The kind of place you wander into and lose track of time.
Because truthfully? Lodi needed one.
We met at a downtown eatery, notebooks open, ideas spilling faster than the coffee refills. We talked about what we wished existed in our own town, a curated collection of stories for readers and bookworms alike, and more than that, a gathering space. A place where book clubs could meet. Where friendships could bloom. Where someone might walk in alone and leave feeling part of something.
When it came time to shape our brand, the aesthetic felt inevitable.
Dark academia, rich, moody colors. Deep walnut woods. The scent of old books. Velvet textures and gold accents. A space that feels like autumn even in July. It perfectly blended our individual styles into something timeless and transportive. We wanted stepping into Midnights to feel like opening a novel set in an ivy-covered university, somewhere between mystery and romance.
And of course, we had to add Easter eggs.
As devoted fans of Taylor Swift, subtle nods were non-negotiable. If you know, you know. A lyric here. A reference there. A detail tucked onto a shelf that makes fellow fans smile in recognition. We love a good hidden message, the kind that rewards the observant and makes the space feel personal, layered, alive.
Now, after years of dreaming, planning, doubting, daring, and doing, we are opening our first brick and mortar location on the 400 block of E. Kettleman in Lodi.
Midnights Bookshop is cozy and inviting by design. It is a space to browse for your next read and stay awhile. To run your fingers along spines until one chooses you. To find thoughtfully curated books and merch made for every kind of book nerd across San Joaquin County and beyond.
We are proudly independent. Proudly women-founded. Proudly built from friendship, late nights, and a belief that stories and spaces matter.
What began as a book club around a table has become shelves, walls, and a door we cannot wait to open.
Some dreams take time.
Ours took a decade. And like any good story, this is only the beginning.