Books on B begins exciting new story for Hayward

Renée Rettig is the owner of the new Books on B in Hayward. Renée Rettig is the owner of the new Books on B in Hayward. Photo: Kate Catron Photo: Kate Catron Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Books on B begins exciting new story for Hayward 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

When the Book Shop closed its doors in February after 56 years in business, Hayward suddenly found itself without a bookstore.

That’s no longer the case. Books on B, a new independent bookstore in downtown Hayward, is opening on Saturday.

“It’s a kaleidoscope of emotions,” said Renée Rettig, the store’s owner. “Overwhelmingly though, gratitude: to my community, and to my trade, that I get to continue being of service in the best way I know how, and live out my days with a society that understands what value the culture of reading and readers brings to this world.”

Before becoming the proprietor of the new store, Rettig was the manager of the Book Shop, where she had worked since helping out there during college in the summer of 1995. The Book Shop — which was on the same street, B, as Books on B — closed after its owners retired.

Rettig, who has lived in nearby San Leandro her entire life, said she hopes to continue the Book Shop’s “tradition of new and used, quirky and rare books.”

Rettig said the store will be “indispensable” to its city of 150,000, with “a robust calendar of events, live music, artwork, storytelling.” She also plans to work with the local library to bring in “literary luminaries, both local and national.”

Originally the home of Abreu Pharmacy (1927), then Goldhor’s Optometry (1960), the shop is a cozy 900 square feet, with 16-foot ceilings and a skylight. The store will eventually hold about 12,000 titles and also has a gallery space that Rettig says will feature a rotation of work by local artists.

To cover the cost of renovations, Rettig raised $70,000 through an Indiegogo campaign .

“In half the projected time, I’d met my goal — humbling,” she said. “It’s perfectly ‘Stone Soup’ — everyone did what they could, even finding the occasional crumpled bill through the mail slot in the morning! I feel incredibly fortunate; the campaign is still active, and book lovers continue to contribute to the cause.”

Rettig said she’ll be the store’s “Jill of all trades.” She’ll train an intern on Monday and will otherwise rely on “the kindness of volunteers.”

Books on B will officially open Saturday — from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Friday, a music- and cake-filled ribbon cutting featured remarks from Hayward Mayor Barbara Halliday and Assemblyman Bill Quirk, D-Hayward, and Hayward Poet Laureate Bruce Roberts read a poem — all in celebration of Hayward getting back a bookstore.

John McMurtrie is The San Francisco Chronicle’s books editor. Email: jmcmurtrie@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @McMurtrieSF