Chasing Santa Fe: Op Cit - A Used-But-Loved

SCULPTING A PALACE IN OUR MEMORY

Fewer things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds its way into his heart. Those first images, the echo of words we think we have left

behind, accompany us throughout our lives and sculpt a palace in our

memory to which, sooner or later - no matter how many books we read, how many worlds we discover, or how much we learn or forget - we will return.

Passage from - The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Photography by C. Whitney-Ward

OP CIT - next to Counter Culture along Baca Street - is a gem. Brimming with used, new and rare books, it has a wonderful energy that begs you to linger and browse and discover. "We consciously designed the space so that it draws you in," explains Sierra Logan, who owns this one-year old book store with business partner Noemi Debodisco. "We've both worked in the book industry for decades, and we took what we enjoyed about other bookstores and distilled that into Op Cit.

Noemi had been collecting books for years and many of those found their way into the shop. There are high-end, signed collectibles, books from estate sales - books on just about every topic."Something for everyone," quips Sierra.

Great prices on books!

"We try to find books that are interesting and unusual; everything we stock we enjoy ourselves." And they only stock books that are in wonderful condition and they add an acetate cover to each hardcover book, so it is protected and has a 'new' feel.