Meet Me at Midnights: Lodi’s Newest Independent Bookshop
There’s a certain magic that’s unique to bookshops. The air inside them thrums with the power of stories pressed between pages and ink. Whether mysteries, philosophy, romance, fantasy and classics, all books offer their readers a portal to new people, new worlds and new ideas. Amanda Zimmerman and Selena Moffett had a shared dream to open a bookshop where people could experience that magic and bring together those who enjoy all that books have to offer. Through the combination of their hard work, unbridled passion and decades-long friendship, Midnights Bookshop in Lodi transformed from a dream into a reality and opened its doors to the public in April 2026.
Amanda and Selena grew close through a book club that Selena and her sister hosted with a few other friends. Amanda had never considered herself an avid reader, though she loved learning. “I developed a curiosity in learning,” she said, “and reading was a part of that.” The first book she picked up with the book club was Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, a well-beloved classic that spans over 1,000 pages. Instead of being intimidated, Amanda was intrigued. “I really enjoyed the community and talking and having discussions,” she said. “A book club really opened it up for me. I could try different things!” The experience transformed her relationship with reading, helping her see how it’s not only a solitary activity, but also a way communities are gathered and strengthened. “It really does come down to community and having a space for people to connect on a human level. Books can be that bridge,” Amanda said.
Their experience within their book club inspired them to take the initial steps toward opening Midnights Bookshop. “Independently, Selena and I both had dreams of opening bookshops,” Amanda said. Selena was the one who approached her first, suggesting that they do it together. Together, they jumped feet-first into the adventure, starting out small with a pop-up shop to test the waters and see what the community response was, and they were blown away. “We started popping up at breweries, at wineries, the farmer’s market and we just had an overwhelmingly positive reaction from almost everyone who came up to us,” Amanda said. “The support that we’ve gotten from every place we’ve popped up, it fills my cup.”
When Selena found the location at Kettleman Station, it seemed like a sign. The owner and the property manager both were incredibly welcoming and supported their vision. “It just felt right,” Amanda said. The space was a blank canvas, waiting for them to bring it to life. They spent weeks transforming the white walls into a “dark academia” atmosphere with rich woods and deep colors that complete the feeling of a cozy library. It’s perfectly accented by a fireplace, leather wingback chairs, and a stunning mural of the night sky that Amanda made herself along with sculptural artworks formed from book pages.
Although they both have their own full-time jobs, both Selena and Amanda work their schedules to ensure Midnights Bookshop can have its doors open to the community as much as possible. “It doesn’t feel like work to me. It really fills me up; it’s energizing,” Amanda said, describing her weekends working at the bookshop.
They have several events planned for the future, such as trivia nights on popular works, working with local authors to host talks and signings, poetry nights and more. The community has continued to rally around the newest local spot. “It’s been a joy to be a part of all of it, and to have people cheering for us the whole time,” she said.
There are always naysayers who believe that physical books and bookstores will go extinct in the current digital age, but Midnights Bookshop stands in spite of their cynicism. The store is connected with both bookshop.org and libro.fm for those who want to support independent bookstores while shopping for digital products such as ebooks and audiobooks, but there are also plenty of customers who show up for the physical experience of choosing a book from the shelves. “People want something different,” Amanda said. “That’s why independent bookstores are on the rise.” Whether you’re looking for Dostoevsky or Dungeon Crawler Carl, an avid reader or just getting started on your bookish journey, Midnights Bookshop’s door is open.
Find Midnights Bookshop at 400 E. Kettleman Lane, Suite 11, in Lodi, California, call 209-400-7521 or visit midnightsbookshop.com. Hours are Thursday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
