In Los Angeles' Historic Filipinotown, A Good Used Bookstore has transformed from a mobile flea market operation into a neighborhood staple. Owners Chris Capizzi and Jenny Yang host weekly "Sunday Funday Markets" that bring food, vendors, and even kitten rescues to the local sidewalk.
From the Rose Bowl Flea Market to a Filipinotown storefront
The retail journey of owners Chris Capizzi and Jenny Yang began in 2017, when they sold books at various Southern California venues including the Melrose Trading Post and the Rose Bowl Flea Market. As the source reports, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a significant pivot toward digital sales, leading the pair to rely heavily on Instagram to reach customers.
Capizzi describes this period as "slinging books directly to buyers onlie," often posting titles to Instagram Stories at an intense frequency to maintain momentum. This scrappy, improvisational approach helped bridge the gap between their mobile roots and the opening of their physical storefront in October 2023. This background in high-traffic, transient markets has clearly informed the high-energy atmosphere of their current Los Angeles location.
The record-store method for vintage paperbacks
A unique shrink-wrapping technique defines the browsing experience at the Filipinotown storefront. To prevent damage to covers and spines, Capizzi and Yang wrap their vintage mass-market paperbacks, allowing customers to flip through them without compromising the inventory. This method was inspired by Capizzi’s family history in the record store business, where maintaining pristine, viewable condition was paramount.
The shop's aesthetic is intentionally utilitarian, utilizing unconventional materials to create a sense of character. According to the report, art books are displayed on shelves made from cinder blocks, and table legs were sourced from flea markets. This blend of fine art documentary photography influences from Yang and film/theater studies from Capizzi results in a space that feels both curated and unpolished.
150 Sundays of food,vendors, and kitten rescues
The Sunday Funday Market has become a consistent ritual for the neighborhood near Echo Park. The owners estimate they have hosted approximately 150 of these gatherings, which transform the sidewalk into a bustling bazaar. These events feature a rotating cast of pop-up vendors selling everything from handcrafted perfumes to vintage clothing, alongside popular food options like pizza pop-ups.
Beyond commerce, the shop has expanded its community programming to include social causes. On the first and third Saturdays of each month, the bookstore hosts kitten rescue days in partnership with local adoption organizations. this expansion suggests that the business is positioning itself as a social hub rather than a traditional retail outlet.
What follows the third anniversary in Historic Filipinotown?
While the shop prepares for its upcoming third anniversary, the specific trajectory of its growth remains unverified. The report notes that Capizzi and Yang are actively searching for new ways to expand , but it does not specify whether this means opening new locations or increasing the scale of their existing events.
Several questions remain regarding the long-term sustainability of their model. It is unclear how the owners plan to balance their "scrappy" improvisational spirit with the increasing demands of a permanent retail presence. Additionally,while the owners plan to fold their anniversary celebration into the broader Historic Filipinotown community calendar, the exact scope of this integration has yet to be detailed.
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