About Us: Meet the Booksellers

Old Capitol Books has been host to dozens of booksellers for the past thirteen years, and is currently owned by Stephanie Spoto.

Stephanie Spoto (Proprietor) has worked at Old Capitol Books since its opening in 2012. She has a PhD in English Literature from Edinburgh University and teaches literature and philosophy at CSU Monterey Bay and Monterey Peninsula College.

History:
Matthew Sundt bought the Book Haven on October 12, 2012 from Guy Rodriguez and Jerry Welling who owned the Book Haven since 2004 (Guy and Jerry also owned Yesterday’s Books in Moss Landing from 1992-2004).  Upon purchase of the Book Haven in 2012, the name of the book store was changed to Old Capitol Books, which reflects the name of Matthew’s family book store that was located at 639-A Lighthouse Avenue in New Monterey (now Gold Coast Tattoo across the street from Hula’s restaurant). Old Capitol Books was originally established in 1983 and was the Peninsula’s premiere book store for 20 years and now Old Capitol Books Redux! and now in downtown Monterey.  Matthew captured the lingering palpable “goodwill” from Old Capitol Books and combined it with the swarm of Book Haven devotees to build his own bookstore style. He ran the bookstore until purchased in 2017 by Ali Elfaki. In 2024, Stephanie Spoto took over ownership of the bookstore and runs it with the help of bookseller Ryan Carroll and their friends.

From garage, to bookstore, to empty shell: the history of 559 Tyler Street

One of the things that made the last Old Capitol Books store location such a special place to be in was the building itself, with its high ceilings and beautiful wooden beams. The building was originally commissioned by Arthur C. Metz (b. 1879), a local real estate investor and Vice President of the Gross Canning Company, which flourished during the 1930s. The contractor who for the building was George C. Miller (b. 1875), from Gonzales, who used the newly constructed building as his shop.

Note: This article is about the last location of Old Capitol Books (2012-2020) on Tyler Street. The bookstore is currently located at 482 Alvarado St., downtown Monterey.

Continue reading “From garage, to bookstore, to empty shell: the history of 559 Tyler Street”

Monterey Holiday Literary Expo – Buy Local this Holiday Season from Local authors!

This holiday season, buy local from local authors who have written a wide range of books that will appeal to any reader on your gift list! We will have novels, mysteries, cookbooks, children’s books, fantasy books, travel books, and more!

Mark your calendars for Friday 3 December 2021, 6pm!

Continue reading “Monterey Holiday Literary Expo – Buy Local this Holiday Season from Local authors!”

Interview with poet Kenny Garcia, on New York, writing, and visiting Palestine

Kenny Garcia (Boukra Press, CSU Monterey Bay) & Stephanie Spoto (Old Capitol Books)

Kenny Garcia
“Letter to Langston” by Kenny Garcia

Spoto: In what way do you think poetry is different than prose? Why are you writing this in poetic form rather than as an essay, a short story, or a letter?Continue reading “Interview with poet Kenny Garcia, on New York, writing, and visiting Palestine”

Interview with featured artist and visual poet, Clairette Durand-Gasselin

Interview: Claire Durand-Gasselin (Mad Gleam Press) & Stephanie Spoto (Old Capitol Books)

Spoto: Maybe we can look at some of your books of art.

Durand-Gasselin: Sure, I have my sketch books, and my accordion books. But in terms of presentable things there isn’t much.

Stephanie Spoto
Clairette Durand-Gasselin

Spoto: What are these books that I’m looking at? What are they as book?Continue reading “Interview with featured artist and visual poet, Clairette Durand-Gasselin”