I found three bookstores while wandering the downtown area of Big Bear Village. One looked to be a Christian type place, one was all about fairies and fantasy, and the third was largely a pet store.

The Big Bear Book & Bean is a cute shop stretching the definition of “bookstore.” Actually, the “bean” part of the bookstore is also in question.

Dan and I were expecting a typical bookstore cafe. With a great name like theirs and the hopeful icon of a steaming mug on the logo, we thought we would get a nice latte and sit down with some books.

Turns out the shop does carry books, but doesn’t offer lattes, much less a place to rest your buns. The coffee offered is from a small machine where you place liquid concentrates of full-caff, decaff or herbal teas. For around a dollar, you select your beverage concentrate, add hot water, and take your cuppa for a walk.

Needless to say, Dan was disappointed and set off for the Big Bear Starbucks.

I didn’t mind black flavored coffee, so I decided to poke around. The Big Bear Book & Bean also carries, inexplicably, a huge array of dog items. And antiques, which are sold upstairs with more dog items.

Dog items like what?

Dog outfits. Upscale leashes and collars, bowls on wooden stands, dog cannolis, pet lover books and toys galore. A luscious display of sprinkled, frosted donuts and dipped cookies tempted humans with pastries made exclusively for dogs.

About one fourth of the store was devoted to doggie couture.

Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it’s still unexpected in a “Book & Bean” store. Maybe the owners have a dog named Bean? Or why not a dog named Book? How come the store icon features a bear and not a dog? Maybe their dog is simply named Bear.

What kind of books do they sell?

New books, mostly trade paperbacks, a few shelves devoted to popular novels in various fiction and non-fiction genres. This is a ‘browsing store,” not the kind of bookstore where you might have a certain book in mind and expect it to be carried.

I can see whiling away a snowy winter’s day here, looking among the selections and holding my cup of Pumpkin Spice Coffee from concentrate. While standing. Staring longingly at sugar-dipped dog pastries.

Stumble it!