Epstein Books is a two-level bookstore that has a variety of books and periodicals, as well as a café. It differs from other bookstore/café businesses in its selection. The store is known and respected for its section on world history and, more recently, its selection of books in Spanish. Therefore, your character, should they waltz into Epstein Books, will encounter a lot of historians, anthropologists, quite a few students, and, obviously, people who speak Spanish.

The lower level of the store is completely nonfiction, with the biggest section being dedicated to world history. You will most likely encounter Keith on this level, because that is the store’s bread and butter. You will most certainly run into Keith if you look like you’re about to shoplift.

The upper level contains the café, literature and periodical sections. This is where you will probably see Pete doing everything but working, except when he is looking over a data sheet. Pete usually sits at the table closest to the edge of the café, either by the periodical section or the literature section. Where he’s sitting denotes what he is reading. You can always expect that whatever he reads will either be in English or Spanish. If your character is a shoplifter, he or she will be surprised at how quickly Pete will stop them. He cheats, see.

The only thing to note about the café’s menu is that, besides selling the regular coffee and espresso based drinks, it also serves mate—or as Keith says, “leaves with water in it.”