This traveling bookstore went viral for its bus setup. It’s finally headed to Tri-Cities

A mobile business based in Yakima has gone viral, with thousands of likes on Instagram and a continually-growing online presence.

Fresh off the celebration of six-months in operation, the Traveling Book Bus is coming to Tri-Cities this weekend. It’s a trailer, technically (but “bus” fits the motif better), filled with new books. Traveling to local businesses across central Washington, the book bus offers a new experience for book lovers in the region.

About the Traveling Book Bus

Run by Anne Zastrow, the Traveling Book Bus is a 12-by-6 trailer done into a full-on bookstore. Zastrow built shelves, replaced the floors and designed the interior and exterior, documenting her progress on Instagram.

Now, the shelves are filled with books across most genres, including a variety of authors from the Pacific Northwest. There are children’s books and young adult sections, and shelves for other genres. Zastrow specializes in the romance and fantasy genres. The romance shelf is definitely the biggest, she told the Herald in an interview.

“That’s what I know best, but I try to have a variety,” she said.

The book bus travels to other local businesses, and will set up in the parking lot. From coffee shops to wineries, customers can stop for a book before ordering a drink.

How the Book Bus came to be

37-year-old Zastrow had worked in libraries and bookstores for years before the bus, around a decade if you count part-time work. She realized that she had two great loves in this work, books and events with readers and authors.

Zastrow decided she would bring these elements together in the best way she could.

The Traveling Book Bus is commonly part of author events, specifically regional authors. Most recently, the six-month anniversary celebration featured regional authors. Coming up, there will be a book fair with Yakima authors in June and a larger romance-focused event in August. Follow @thetravelingbookbusstore on Instagram or Facebook for updates regarding these events, and others.

“There are lots of events for big authors, or for hosting 50-something authors at the same time,” Zastrow said in an interview with the Herald. “But there aren’t many for small, starting authors in the area.”

She enjoys hosting local and regional authors, regardless of their status. She says it’s similar to her collaborations with local businesses, mutually beneficial for both parties and for the community.

Through the book bus, Zastrow is regularly connecting with those two great loves. She gets to stock the bus, help customers find the right book and engage in events with authors.

Traveling Book Bus book club

As a thank you to the community, the Traveling Book Bus offers a book club with special discounts each month. Customers can sign up online, choosing to pick up their monthly book or have it delivered.

Then, Zastrow will set aside a fantasy or romance book for club members once a month. It’s usually a special edition, and always brand new, in order to prevent duplicating books members already have. The day will vary, so it’s ready as close to the book’s release as possible. Members will receive 15% off of the book.

“It’s my way to give thanks to my readers for supporting me,” Zastrow said.

She chooses the book highlighted each month, choosing pieces she’s read already or by authors she enjoys.

Traveling Book Bus locations

There are a few businesses in Yakima that the Traveling Book Bus visits a couple times per month on varying dates. The best way to follow along with bus stops is to follow the Instagram page or Facebook page. Zastrow is dedicated to visiting different businesses in central Washington.

However, she doesn’t get to come to Tri-Cities often, though she is working to change that. An upcoming visit will be at the Badger Mountain and Powers Winery Spring Market, scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. on May 25.

The market will include live performances from local musicians Payton Drury and Austin Miller, who both offer country tunes with acoustic guitar. Food and drink options will include Blooming Coffee Co, Eat Hot Tamales, Opa Mediterranean Kitchen and Botanas Culichi.

Along with the Traveling Book Bus, other vendors at the market will include:

• The Dog Nook
• The Little Plant Shop
• Camila Soaps
• Josi
• Hot Mess Ink
• Whimsy Love
• The Teal Box Co.
• Xochi Permanent Jewelry
• Dia Accessories
• Chads Custom Creations
• BreadHead
• Chunkys & More
• Stitching Wild Oats
• Salsa Mix
• K&CO Apothecary
• Foxe Tails
• Bishops Bees
• S&B Botanicals

Zastrow is looking forward to the event, saying she always enjoys markets with other local vendors. She’ll be the only one working the bus at the event, which is standard for markets and business collaborations. She has two volunteers who help out with author events.

If you’re interested in working with the Traveling Book Bus at your business or upcoming event, you can reach out at thetravelingbookbus@hotmail.com. Make sure you have a private parking lot or the ability to designate space for the bus.

She’ll travel all around the region, but depending on the distance from Yakima, Zastrow may require a deposit for her time and gas needs. If she makes more than the deposit while there, you’ll get that deposit back. The general marker for the deposit is 90 minutes from Yakima.

Zastrow says the first visit to a new location can be pretty slow, but attendees grow over time. The first time she set up at a coffee shop in Yakima, she said there was basically nothing that day. But now, it’s her favorite place to work with.