Then & Now: Famous bookstore moved through LJ

John Cole’s Book Shop opened in 1946 at the corner of Ivanhoe Avenue and Cave Street. In 1966, the book store moved to Wisteria Cottage at 780 Prospect St., now home of the La Jolla Historical Society.

Trivia: What other organization was historically located in Wisteria Cottage?

SCROLL DOWN for the answer.

ANSWER: La Jolla Country Day School

La Jolla Country Day School traces its beginnings to The Balmer School, founded in 1926, by Louise Balmer in a small cottage on Coast Boulevard serving four primary school children. The Balmer School expanded, eventually holding kindergarten through fifth-grade classes in what formerly was John Cole’s Book Shop on Prospect Street.

Nearly three decades later, Balmer and a group of dedicated parents saw the need for an independent day school which would include Middle and Upper School classes as well.