Artifact Books: Rare and Collectible Books in Encinitas, CA

Last updated August 13, 2026

Greg Mollin has been collecting books since childhood, and at 603 S Coast Hwy 101 in Encinitas, California, that lifelong habit finally has a home. Artifact Books carries new, used, rare, and collectible titles under one roof, occupying a compact but carefully arranged space along the South Coast Highway 101 corridor. It's the kind of shop that rewards browsers and sends serious collectors away satisfied.

The store operates in a category that has seen significant pressure from online retail, yet Artifact Books has carved out a loyal customer base in Encinitas by doing something algorithms can't replicate: putting the right book in front of the right person. Mollin's hands-on curation and willingness to spend real time with customers set the shop apart from both chain retailers and impersonal online marketplaces.

Artifact Books holds a 4.8 rating across 49 reviews, a figure that reflects consistent satisfaction from a community that clearly takes its reading seriously.

History and Founding of Artifact Books in Encinitas

Mollin opened Artifact Books on June 1, 2020, a date that, in retrospect, was about as challenging a moment as any to launch a retail business. The COVID-19 pandemic had upended commerce across the country, and a new independent bookshop on a California highway might have seemed like a long shot. But the store made it through that first year, and the next, and the next. June 2023 marked the shop's three-year anniversary, a milestone Mollin acknowledged publicly.

The founding wasn't a pivot or a calculated business move. Mollin describes himself as a reader, writer, book collector, and bibliophile going back as far as he can remember. Artifact Books is the direct expression of that identity. And the road to that anniversary wasn't only about surviving a pandemic. Mollin also navigated a personal battle with cancer during the shop's early years. He has spoken about feeling fortunate to come through that period, and the store's continued operation reflects that resilience.

Mollin is a member of the American Booksellers Association, which connects independent bookstore owners with industry resources and a broader professional network.

Artifact Books Services and Specialties

The shop's inventory spans four distinct categories, and that range is part of what makes it worth a visit whether you're a casual reader or a serious collector.

• New books: A curated selection of new titles, chosen rather than simply stocked.
• Used books: Secondhand volumes across a range of subjects and genres, priced for readers rather than just collectors.
• Rare books: Hard-to-find titles for collectors who know what they're looking for.
• Collectible books: Editions valued for their condition, provenance, or significance beyond the text itself.

The curation is the differentiator. Artifact Books isn't a warehouse where you dig through unsorted donations. The selection reflects Mollin's taste and knowledge, which means the shop has a point of view. Customers who browse here are working with a collection that someone thought about, not a random accumulation.

The store also accepts book donations from the community. Books that don't fit the shop's inventory aren't simply discarded. Mollin ensures they're passed along to where they'll actually be used and appreciated, which gives donors a reason to bring in their shelves rather than sending them to a landfill.

Team and Leadership at Artifact Books

Greg Mollin runs Artifact Books and is its most visible presence. Customers consistently describe him as knowledgeable and genuinely helpful, the kind of bookseller who listens to what you're looking for rather than steering you toward whatever's easiest to sell.

The staff, though small, draws similar praise. Shoppers note that the people working at Artifact Books are friendly and engaged, not just transactional. For a shop this size, that staff character matters as much as the inventory.

Milestones and Track Record

• Opened June 1, 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Celebrated its three-year anniversary in June 2023.
• Mollin navigated a personal cancer diagnosis and recovery while keeping the business open.
• Mollin is an active member of the American Booksellers Association.
• Featured in interviews discussing the shop's origins and the experience it offers customers.

What Customers Say About Artifact Books

The reviews for Artifact Books circle back to a few consistent points: the quality of the curation, the warmth of the people behind the counter, and the feeling that this is a place worth returning to. Caleb Gray put it plainly:

'Greg is incredibly kind, deeply knowledgeable, and always willing to help. The place may be small but it is cozy and very well curated.'

- Caleb Gray

Courtnee Noblesse offered a more emphatic take:

'If you love books, you will love this place. More than 5 stars, all the stars.'

- Courtnee Noblesse

Ronald Coleman noted that the staff's expertise is part of what makes the visit worthwhile:

'The people who work here are knowledgeable and friendly.'

- Ronald Coleman

Saskia Cohick described the shop as a gem that could easily be overlooked by someone not already in the know:

'Giant fan of this potentially overlooked gem.'

- Saskia Cohick

And sam j pointed to Mollin's approach to donations as a sign of his broader commitment to books finding good homes:

'He's also happy to accept book donations and ensure that the books he can't use are forwarded on to where they would be used and appreciated.'

- sam j

Across these accounts, the shop reads as a place where the owner's genuine love of books translates into a better experience for everyone who walks in.

Location and Community in Encinitas, CA

Artifact Books sits at 603 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024, along a stretch of road that sees steady traffic from both locals and visitors passing through the area. Coast Highway 101 is a well-traveled corridor in this part of San Diego County, which means the shop benefits from visibility without being buried in a mall or tucked into a strip center that requires a specific reason to visit.

Encinitas has a reputation as a community that supports independent businesses and local culture, and Artifact Books fits naturally into that character. Mollin's willingness to accept book donations and redirect unusable volumes to people who need them reflects a shop that sees itself as part of the neighborhood, not just a retail location within it.

For those tracking the broader Encinitas real estate picture, the city has seen home price appreciation averaging around 8.5 percent annually in recent years, with projections settling closer to 4.2 percent going forward. That kind of sustained growth speaks to the area's desirability and the stability of the community that shops like Artifact Books call home.

Why Choose Artifact Books

Artifact Books offers something that's genuinely hard to find: a small shop with a real point of view, run by someone who has spent a lifetime thinking about books. The mix of new, used, rare, and collectible titles means there's something for the casual reader and the serious collector alike, and the curation means you're not wading through noise to find it.

Mollin's personal story, from childhood collector to bookshop owner to cancer survivor still behind the counter, gives the shop a weight that goes beyond retail. Stopping in at 603 S Coast Hwy 101 in Encinitas isn't just a shopping trip. It's a visit to a place that exists because someone cared enough to build it and stubborn enough to keep it going.

Customer quotes shown above are from public Google reviews.