Plaza Books & Paper Vision

Operating out of the heart of downtown Santa Cruz, this business boasts a long local lineage dating back to 1906 when it originally opened under the name Plaza Stationery. By the 1970s, operating under the dual name Plaza Books & Paper Vision, the shop was housed inside the historic Hotel Metropole building, an architectural landmark of turn-of-the-century commercial design. Located on the Pacific Garden Mall, the store served as a prominent local hub for books, fine paper, and gifts.

The turning point for the business—and the entire downtown corridor—was the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which severely damaged the Pacific Garden Mall. In the aftermath of the disaster, current owners Rob and Yuko took over the business. Today, the book-selling side of the business has largely been phased out, but the shop survives just down the street at 1345 Pacific Avenue simply as Paper Vision, focusing on specialty stationery, greeting cards, children's books, toys, and local art.