The store suffered water damage just before its second birthday. Here’s how you can celebrate and support the shop.

YUMA, Ariz. — CJ Alberts knew Yuma needed an independent bookstore.

She grew up in the southern Arizona town, and after moving back from Portland, Oregon, a few years ago, she set out to create the space she wished she’d had as a teenager.

“I would have benefited so deeply from a space like I’ve created and like I had access to in Portland, when I was a teenager here,” Alberts said.

That’s why two years ago this August, Alberts opened Sunny’s Book Truck, right in the heart of downtown Yuma. 

Sunny’s Book Truck did start as its namesake: Alberts originally sold used books out of a Japanese minitruck at farmers’ markets and pop-ups. While the truck still makes an appearance from time to time, the brick-and-mortar space is where community members gather to find their next great read, organize, and participate in book clubs.

Alberts said her goal with Sunny’s was for the store to be a “vessel.”

“I wanted it to be a vessel for community, to bring people together and to really foster joy through the lens of reading and through connecting over books, and that’s what it’s become,” Alberts said. 

The store has been used by many in the community: a local abolition group, an abortion rights access signing was held at the store, and a queer youth book club meets there, just to name a few.

It’s another part of the ethos of the story, Alberts said, and something she wishes she had as a teen growing up in Yuma.

“I just want this to be a safe and welcoming and affirming space that people can use as they’d like,” Alberts said. 

For Maggie Ruedas, who works at Sunny’s, the space has been just that.

“Ninety percent of the people that walk out always say thank you to us. They’re so grateful to have a space that is open for not just for buying books, but just to come and be in community, right, and get together and hold these moments together, especially with some really turbulent times,” Ruedas said. “We are in a border town, so it’s been really difficult, but I’ve been feeling really safe here at Sunny’s, and I know that a lot of folks do too.”

Ruedas said she was honored when Alberts asked her to work at the store and has loved working at “the coolest store in Yuma.”

“Sunny’s has literally changed Yuma,” Ruedas said.

The store also serves as one of the few dedicated queer spaces in Yuma, Alberts said. 

“Growing up in Yuma, not having any dedicated queer spaces here, it was really important for me to be openly affirming and loudly gay and proud in all of our messaging and all of our branding and all of our offerings,” Alberts said. “Because again, that would have meant the world to me to see that reflected as a teenager growing up here.”

And the community has taken notice. One of Alberts’ favorite parts of owning Sunny’s is the interactions she has with customers. 

“I’ve had moms come in here and be like, ‘this is the only space my trans kid feels welcome, like, thank you so much for having books that reflect their identities and offering specific titles that they’re going to be interested in,'” Alberts said.

The store is celebrating its second birthday this August with a party on August 30 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., where customers can get a free zine, spin the “deal wheel,” eat cake, and celebrate with the community.

But just before the birthday party, just under $1,000 worth of stock was damaged by water, Alberts shared on social media.

Alberts said for those who want to help the store get back on its feet, the best way to help is to come to the birthday party and buy books. If you’re not local to the area, you can also place orders online at Sunny’s website. 

Because Alberts has big plans for Sunny’s: she said she wants to keep bringing books and making reading accessible for all of Yuma, and keep celebrating all of the milestones along the way.

“It’s fun connecting with people over books, it’s… I can’t believe that this is a huge part of my life and something that I get to foster and develop and grow every day,” Albert said. “It’s really a big privilege for me.”

To learn more about Sunny’s, check out their social media pages. If you want to purchase books or merchandise, head to the bookstore’s website.

For more book and literacy stories, check out “Reading Arizona” on YouTube and 12News.com. If you have a story pitch for Reading Arizona, email koconnor@12news.com or reach out via Instagram, @thatjournalistwhoreads. 


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