Rakestraw Books, a 53-year-old independent bookstore in Danville, had a surprise celebrity visitor a few weeks ago: Zendaya.
Zendaya attends the Los Angeles Premiere of HBO’s “Euphoria” Season 3 at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 7, 2026 in Hollywood, California. Rakestraw Books, a 53-year-old independent bookstore in Danville, had a surprise celebrity visitor a few weeks ago: Zendaya.
The Oakland-born-and-raised megastar recently popped into the store with a family member, according to Bel McNeill, a buyer and seller at the store.
“She did some shopping and was apparently the sweetest person you could ever meet,” McNeill said. During Zendaya’s visit, shop owner Michael Barnard took a photo of the actress holding two books that have film adaptations she’s starring in this year: Frank Herbert’s “Dune Messiah,” and Homer’s “The Odyssey. ”Employee Susan Reckers organizes stuffed animals for sale in Rakestraw Books bookstore in Danville on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
After securing her permission, the bookstore posted the photo on social media platforms the morning of June 6, McNeill said. Within hours, the photo had generated over 27,000 “likes” on “It says something certainly about the area, and the East Bay as a whole, that someone who is as famous and popular as that feels comfortable and safe to visit a little independent bookstore and know there isn’t going to be a fuss made about it,” McNeill said.
“I don’t know if we’ll ever see her again, but we’re incredibly touched that she deigned to have a photograph taken and was so lovely,” she added. “It is such a treat for us. ” The bookstore is not the only East Bay institution to receive love from the movie star this spring.
On May 28, Arizmendi Bakery postedshowing Zendaya signing autographs at the premiere of her film, “The Drama,” in Rome, Italy, and telling a fan that the cooperative is her favorite place to eat in Oakland. Actress Zendaya, left, and actor Robert Pattinson pose for photographers as they arrive for the Italian premiere of the movie "The Drama" in Rome, Thursday, March 26, 2026.
that she and Tom Holland recently adopted their third dog, a pocket bully, from an Oakland shelter. Oakland Animal Services confirmed with
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