Moonstone & Mist Bookshop: A New Independent Bookstore in Redondo Beach
Moonstone & Mist Bookshop is bringing an independent bookstore back to Redondo Beach, with owner Renee Joyce preparing to open a brick and mortar shop inside BlendzUP Acai & Coffee Bar at 1913 S Catalina Ave in the Riviera Village. Since October 2025, the shop has operated as a pop-up out of Renee’s SUV and basement, popping up under its signature purple tent and black crates at coffee shops, holiday events, farmers markets, and vendor fairs across the South Bay.
South Bay Spotlight Series Powered by South Bay Credit Union
South Bay Spotlight is presented in partnership with South Bay Credit Union, who believe in The Credit Union Difference: uplifting the communities they serve and helping members live better and do better. This series celebrates the locally owned, community-rooted businesses that show up day after day for the South Bay. Nominate a Local Business.
A Lifelong Love of Books
Renee’s love of books started at home, where both of her parents were big readers. She remembers receiving boxes of books from her dad when he was overseas with the Air Force, and spending hours at the library with her mom, checking out the maximum number of books every visit. In elementary school, the Scholastic Book Fair became the highlight of her year, and in high school an English teacher, Dr. Mikulics, brought literature and theater to life for her.
Renee went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a master’s degree in African American Studies, deepening her appreciation for different literary styles and genres. When her son was in elementary school in Redondo Beach, Renee got her first taste of running a bookstore as his school’s Scholastic Book Fair Chair, an experience she loved. When she learned his middle school no longer needed parent support for its book fair, the disappointment planted the seed for opening her own bookshop.
For the past six years, Renee has worked as a full-time editor, including for local science kit company iSprowt, in technical editing for the aerospace industry, and as a freelance editor for local nonprofits. Owning and operating an independent bookshop has been a dream come true.
From Pop-Up Tent to Brick and Mortar
Moonstone & Mist Bookshop carries a curated collection of new and gently used books across all genres, featuring diverse authors for readers of every age and background. The shop’s new brick and mortar location will open inside BlendzUP Acai & Coffee Bar in the Riviera Village starting the first week of September, with a Grand Opening celebration planned for Saturday, September 26. Doors open at 9am, with festivities running throughout the day.
In the new space, Moonstone & Mist Bookshop plans to host book signings, poetry readings, craft activities, book discussions, writing workshops, story time, fundraisers, a Silent Book Club, watch parties for book-related shows and movies, book launches, and more.
A Moment That Made It All Worth It
Renee points to a moment at the Riviera Village Summer Festival as one that has driven her forward. A Redondo Union High School student and her mother stopped by the bookshop’s tent, and when the student spotted issues of The Compass, RUHS’s student-authored literary magazine, on the table, she realized her own writing was inside. Renee asked her to sign each issue next to her submissions, and the student was overjoyed. By living her own dream, Renee was able to make a young writer’s dream come true.
Deeply Rooted in the South Bay Community
Renee has built Moonstone & Mist Bookshop around community connection. She has volunteered with the PTA and with local nonprofits like Community Loving, and through the bookshop she has hosted a Silent Reading Book Club, book discussions, game nights, and author panels. She has supported local schools and nonprofits through book fairs and multicultural events, and sells Redondo Union High School’s literary magazine with 100 percent of each sale returning to the school’s library as new books.
Moonstone & Mist Bookshop has collaborated with Exquisite Aesthetics, BlendzUP Acai & Coffee Bar, La Terraza, Kaffeine, the Village Garden, Afternoon Tea at the Village, the Fair Trade Long Beach Retail Collective, and ScrapsCollective, and has carried products from local creators including Haus of Mean-ager, Southbay Wishcraft, Lisa the Knotty Crocheter, My Secret Copy, and Sable & Starlight.
Advice From Renee’s Own Journey
Renee’s advice for anyone pursuing their own path is to figure out how to find joy in what you do all day, then research, listen, and learn from the resources available in your community and your chosen field. She set an intention years ago to live joyfully and authentically, and encourages others to pursue whatever has been pulling at their heart.
Supporting an Independent Bookstore
Renee is candid about the challenges facing brick and mortar bookstores, from online retailers to the rising cost of doing business. As an indie bookstore, Moonstone & Mist Bookshop is required to sell new books at publisher-set prices, and competes as a member of two B2B platforms built to support independent bookstores, libro.fm and bookshop.org. A partnership with BlendzUP Acai & Coffee Bar is helping reduce the cost of operating the new brick and mortar space.
What a local bookshop offers that no online retailer can, Renee says, is the feeling of community, connection through shared interests, and the chance for shoppers to support a small, locally owned business.
Why South Bay Residents Should Visit
Until the Riviera Village shop opens, Moonstone & Mist Bookshop continues to appear at its regular pop-up locations around the South Bay, with all events listed on its website and Instagram. Once open, the shop plans to be a gathering place for readers of every age, hosting the same mix of book clubs, author events, and community gatherings that built its following as a pop-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Moonstone & Mist Bookshop located?
The new brick and mortar location is opening inside BlendzUP Acai & Coffee Bar at 1913 S Catalina Ave in the Riviera Village neighborhood of Redondo Beach, with a Grand Opening on Saturday, September 26.
Who owns Moonstone & Mist Bookshop?
Renee Joyce owns and operates Moonstone & Mist Bookshop, which she started as a pop-up shop in October 2025.
What kind of books does Moonstone & Mist Bookshop carry?
The shop carries a curated collection of new and gently used books across all genres, featuring diverse authors for readers of all ages.
Does Moonstone & Mist Bookshop host events?
Yes, the shop hosts book signings, poetry readings, book discussions, writing workshops, a Silent Book Club, and more, with additional events planned for its new brick and mortar location.
Where can I find Moonstone & Mist Bookshop before the storefront opens?
The shop continues to appear at pop-up locations including coffee shops, holiday events, farmers markets, and vendor fairs around the South Bay, with locations listed on its website and Instagram.
Moonstone & Mist Bookshop
1913 S Catalina Ave
Redondo Beach, CA (Riviera Village, inside BlendzUP Acai & Coffee Bar)
Website: moonstoneandmist.com
Instagram: @moonstoneandmistbookshop
Facebook: Moonstone & Mist Bookshop
South Bay Credit Union
PCH: 312 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Artesia: 2023 Artesia Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Lomita: 24520 Narbonne Avenue, Lomita, CA 90717
Website: southbaycu.com
Instagram: @southbaycreditunion
Facebook: South Bay Credit Union
Know a Local Business That Deserves the Spotlight?
The South Bay Spotlight series is all about celebrating the businesses that make this community special. Know a local shop, restaurant, or service that should be featured? Send them here.
South Bay Spotlight is powered by South Bay Credit Union.
Stay Connected With Local Anchor
We cover the South Bay every week: the events worth showing up for, the restaurants worth the wait, and the community stories worth knowing. Here’s how to stay in the loop.
- š§ Weekly Newsletter: The week’s best South Bay events and things to do ā Subscribe
- š¬ WhatsApp Channel: Last-minute picks and weekend alerts ā Join
- šø Instagram: @WeAreLocalAnchor
- šµ TikTok: @WeAreLocalAnchor
- ā¶ļø YouTube: Local Anchor on YouTube
- š„ Facebook Groups: What’s Happening in the South Bay | South Bay Local
