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Xref: bloom-picayune.mit.edu rec.arts.books:55043 rec.arts.sf.written:17263 news.answers:4792 Newsgroups: rec.arts.books,rec.arts.sf.written,news.answers Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!uunet!cis.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnewsi!cbnewsh!att-out!cbnewsj!ecl From: ecl@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (Evelyn C. Leeper) Subject: Bookstores in San Francisco Bay Area (SF) List (rec.arts.books) Expires: Thu, 25 Mar 1993 22:38:02 GMT Organization: AT&T Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1992 22:37:54 GMT Approved: ecl@cbnewsj.att.com Message-ID: <1992Dec25.223754.3322@cbnewsj.cb.att.com> Followup-To: rec.arts.books Keywords: monthly Supersedes: <1992Nov25.163328.7260@cbnewsj.cb.att.com> Lines: 593 Archive-name: books/stores/bay-area Last change: Tue Dec 22 08:44:43 EST 1992 Addition: Poor Pat's (Campbell) Florey's (Pacifica) O'Neil Book Co. (Berkeley) Copies of this article may be obtained by anonymous ftp to pit-manager.mit.edu (18.172.1.27) under /pub/usenet/news.answers/books/stores/bay-area.Z. Or, send email to mail-server@pit-manager.mit.edu with the subject line "send usenet/news.answers/books/stores/bay-area", leaving the body of the message empty. [Note 1: I collected these comments from a variety of people. I personally have no knowledge of many of these places and take no responsibility if you buy a book you don't enjoy. :-) Phone numbers and precise addresses can be gotten by calling directory assistance for the appropriate city. Call ahead for precise hours, as even when I list them they are subject to change.] [Note 2: I am cross-posting this to rec.arts.sf.written, but the bookstores listed include *all* types of bookstores, so please don't tell me that a particular store has a limited SF section unless I have specifically claimed otherwise.] SAN FRANCISCO: (Now arranged geographically--thanks to Joseph Brenner. Roughly East to West, or starting "Downtown" and moving outwards.) Chinatown: Louie Bros Book Store (754 Washington near Grant). Chinese Language. Noted a Lotus 1-2-3 manual in the window. Downtown: City Lights (Broadway and 261 Columbus). The best place for general literature. Famous beat era shop. Go downstairs. Alexander Book Co. (south of Market on Second Street downtown). Pleasant to hang out in, and carries a more interesting selection of everything than many larger places. It's hidden away behind Stacey's, which is valuable but really just a giant Waldenbooks in spirit. Rand McNally (Market near 2nd). Huge selection of maps and travel books. Stacey's (581 Market near 2nd). It is remarkable for technical books. Another branch at 383 Sacramento between Front & Battery. Tillman Place Bookshop (8 Tillman Place off Grant between Post & Sutter). Also called Charlotte Newbegin's Bookshop. Specializes in Russian books, which makes it almost unique in the western US (but see also Palo Alto). "This is one of my favorite places to browse at lunchtime. They carry new and used books, and sometimes adorn their used treasures with hand-made dust-covers -- gorgeous hand-painted papers and hand-printed labels. They also have a large, elegant cat, who usually sleeps amid the window display!" Argonaut Books (786 Sutter at the corner of Taylor) (used) The Bookstall (570 Sutter btwn Powell and Mason) (used). It has a general selection of books. Albatross (166 Eddy btwn Mason and Taylor) (used). Much more upscale than McDonalds, excellent selection. In a very seedy area, but you are probably safe during the day. McDonalds (48 Turk) (used). You gotta see this place: rickety shelves stacked to the rafters with old books and magazines. The next quake is going to wipe this place out. In a very seedy area, but you are probably safe during the day. Civic Center: Fantasy Etc. (808 Larkin) "Science Fiction and Detective Fiction" A Clean Well-Lighted Place For Books at Opera Plaza (610 Van Ness Ave between Golden Gate and Turk). Acorn Books (740 Polk between Eddy and Ellis next-door to Sierra Club HQ) (used). Everything over $15 is on the computer. They also have printouts by topic. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art bookstore (Van Ness and McAllister, near the Opera House). A great selection of art and art-related books; also some interesting children's books. Richard Hilkert, Bookseller (333 Hayes, near the Performing Arts Center). Has a large number of books on architecture, as well as a large collection of books, new and used, on design, the arts, collecting, gardening, cooking, travel.... Carries new and used books, and has book signings from time to time. Drama Books (134 Ninth St, San Francisco CA 94103, (two or three blocks off Market), (415) 255-0604). Marina: Writer's Bookstore (2848 Webster, between Green & Union). A tiny store with new and used books. Classical music on the radio, sports on TV! *All* new books discounted up to 50% off cover-price! Maritime Book Store (Hyde Street Pier near Fisherman's Wharf). A very good selection of new maritime books. While there, must visit the Balclutha, one of the few remaining square-rigged Cape Horn sailing ships. Mission: Aardvark (237 Church). Used to have separate new and used stores; now the Church Street location carries both new and used books. Maelstrom Books (572 Valencia near 17th St). Medium-sized place. "Looks good." Valencia Books (around 528 Valencia, near 16th St). Many hardcovers on tall shelves, old wooden floors with some scattered chairs. A great used bookstore. The hours are just listed as "opening" to "closing," but closing seems *late* and opening is around noon. The Book Center (518 Valencia near 16th St). Political literature. Old Wives' Tales (1009 Valencia). Feminist. Modern Times Bookstore (Valencia near 20th Street; Next door to Cafe Beano at 878 Valencia). A good selection of books along the lines of contemporary urban/liberal thought. "I gather from the name they think of themselves as an alternative to the more backward-looking "City Lights" bookstore." Carroll's Books (Church and 24th--Noe Valley) (used). Jim Carroll was a buyer at Green Apple (see below) and has excellent taste in used books. If you're in the area, check out the Mission: Valencia Books, Maelstrom, etc. Laissez-Faire Books (Howard Street). Some general philosophy, but strong classical liberal flavor. Freedom's Forum (1800 Market Street). (Capitalist) "Most bookstores carry plenty of socialist books; how many carry the works of the Austrian economists such as Ludwig Von Mises and F.A. Hayek? ... Anyone wanting a balanced view of both socialism and capitalism should patronize this store frequently." (according to one poster) Limelight Film & Theatre Bookstore (1803 Market, San Francisco CA 94103, (415) 864-2265). The Limelight has more scripts, but Drama Books also stocks used books, and more about the history/techniques of theater. Ninth Avenue Books (1348 9th Ave near Kirkham). Beard's Books (637 Kirkham near 8th Ave). Mostly used books. A little bit of everything, but not a lot of anything. High prices. A hard place to be enthusiastic about, but it is open late (after midnight), and it's got a cafe next door. Comics & Comix (Kirkham at 8th Ave). Another entry in the chain (smaller than Palo Alto's). Books New & Used (345 Judah at 9th Ave). "Discount Medical, Technical & Professional." Hours around 9AM-6PM, closed Sunday. A to Z News (1392 9th Ave at Judah). Good magazine rack, includes many "academic" journals. Some used pornographic paperbacks, displayed with the appropriate magazines. Includes an Espresso bar. Castro: A Different Light (489 Castro Street between 17th & 18th). This is a branch of the company that also has bookstores in West Hollywood and New York City. They have a very large selection of titles of interest to lesbians, bisexuals and gay men, and occasionally carry a few used books. They also have a large L/G/B newspaper and magazine section, and sell videos, cards, T-shirts, buttons and other good stuff, and also regularly schedule authors' receptions and readings. Crown Books (Castro near 18th Street) A typical Crown bookstore, though with a fairly large "Gay Interest" section in the back. Castro Kiosk (Castro nearby Books Etc) Another Gay and Lesbian magazine store. Books Etc. (538 Castro near 18th Street) (used). A good selection of (mostly) used books, notable for having a fairly large "Gay Interest" section. Lower Haight: (no name?) (473 Haight St near Filmore) Mostly magazines, and that mostly gay and lesbian pornography. Some independant comics and quite a lot of small press/fanzine publications. Diluvian (518 Haight near Filmore) (used). Largely a used bookstore, with a wide assortment oriented toward hardcovers. Atmosphere is relaxed, spacious with a number of easy chairs scattered around. They play classical music in the background. Naked Eye (533 Haight St near Filmore) Newstand and video rental place. A weird magazine selection, with some nice touches like "The Skeptical Inquirer" on display next to the UFO magazines. Comix Experience (305 Divisidero) A basic comic book store, with a bit more open space than usual, for live appearences by authors and artists. Upper Haight: Saint Adrian Company (1334 Haight, near Central) (used). Small, but classy used bookstore. Atmosphere: has a small leather couch on a Chinese carpet, with jazz music in the background. Bound Together, the Anarchist Collective Bookstore (1369 Haight near Masonic). An odd collection of new and used books, plus small press stuff. It has some strange left-wing anarchist literature, but it also carries quite a bit of other material, which might loosely be classified as "weird": lesbian poets, Tesla Coils, early issues of "REsearch," and so on. Forever After Books (1475 Haight near Ashbury) (used). Small, but with every available space packed with used books. The staff is very agressively helpful, probably because they know how hard it could be to find something here. They carry all of the usual stuff, though in particular I thought they had impressive collections of old DIY/Engineering books and children's books. Great Expectations (1520 Haight near Ashbury) Very small place, but a surprizingly good collection of general literature. Lots of T-shirts and things, largely on 60s nostalgia themes, but there are also hints of the newer, punkier Haight. Comic Relief (1597 Haight near Clayton) Mostly comics. Carries some other random things like THE ANARCHIST COOKBOOK. The Booksmith (1644 Haight near Belvedere) Has a table up front with a collection of excellent, quirky, discount hardcovers and trade paperbacks. Richmond: Green Apple Books (506 Clement) (also used). "Remotely situated in the Richmond district under perpetual fog and surrounded by a maelstrom of Russian tearooms, Vietnamese restaurants and greengrocers, the Holy City Zoo, Tevye's, and the greatest Armenian delicatessen-- Haig's--I've ever smelled." Go upstairs for used books. There are a few other used bookstores within a block or two of there. Albatross III (143 Clement near Second Avenue) (used). This is the neighborhood of Green Apple and many restaurants. Canterbury Books (on the south side of Geary near 17th Avenue). Very knowledgeable staff. Just one block from a 38 Geary bus stop. "Highly recommended." Sunset: In and Out of Print books (401-A Judah and 9th Ave) (used). Another great used book store. Its awning says OPEN TILL MIDNITE. "I don't know the name of the place but they have a fairly typical assortment of the sort of stuff which people like used bookstores for, including some older paperback first editions as suitably outrageous prices." (Also 443 Clement) Elsewhere (Judah and 8th Avenue). Science fiction and mysteries. One person said it seems to be open only about 10 hours a week; another said it is open until 8 (?) on Wednesdays. BERKELEY/OAKLAND: SF and Fantasy: Dark Carnival (Shattuck/Adeline, across the street from the Ashby BART). (The address is 2978 Adeline, but some people think it's on Shattuck.) Wonderful selection. Other Change of Hobbit (2433 Channing Way). In a mini-mall between Durant and Channing Way off Telegraph; underneath building on west side of Telegraph--the same mall as Revolution Books and Dave's Smoke Shop. Another great SF/F bookstore. New and used books. New and Used: Ben Franklin Books in the North Berkeley Center (Shattuck and Cedar). Nothing spectacular but one occasionally finds something interesting there. New books. Berkeley Book Consortium (1700 Shattuck at Virginia). I've found several books at BBC that I had given up hope of ever running across. Used books. Big Bad Book Sale (2349 Shattuck Ave). New books greatly reduced, with very little order to the chaos. Black Oak Books (1491 Shattuck Ave). Though one person says, "IMHO, Black Oak Books is all shuck and jive. Lots of new Politically Correct stuff up front, but slim pickins for used goods in the back." (Other dissenting votes have also been received.) New and used books. Barnes & Noble (on Shattuck). "The Berkeley store is quite large without the crowding which often occurs between rows of bookcases. They even put out some benches around a fountain in the center of the store. The magazine selection is huge. I found "Car Design and Technology," a British magazine. It was the latest issue (flown in, according to the sticker), and still only cost a few dollars." Cody's (2454 Telegraph at Haste). "One of the two stores in the Bay area I hold up as the definition of the term 'bookstore.' (The other is Kepler's in Menlo Park.)" A very large selection of just about everything, (foreign language books on Dwight just west of Telegraph). There is even a book about Cody's: CODY'S BOOKS: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A BERKELEY BOOKSTORE, 1956-1977, by Pat and Fred Cody (scheduled for Oct 1992 and described in an article in the August 3, 1992 issue of "Publishers Weekly"). Half-Price Books (2525 Telegraph between Dwight and Parker). "This bookstore is abominably organized. The only time I ever go in is when I'm waiting for a table at the Ethiopian restaurant next door." Holmes (274 14th St, Oakland). Excellent selection, EXCELLENT prices. You might have trouble getting there, because the freeway collapsed. (Others claim this isn't a problem, and there is pretty good parking.) It's also on the border of a major crack-dealing district, so you should only go there in the middle of the day, not at night. (As someone else points out, it also closes at 5, so the former seems redundant.) Lots of Californiana upstairs. New and used books. Liberty Tree (134 98th St in Oakland). Not just libertarian but also general civil liberties and` history books. Mr. Mopps' Children's Bookshop (1405 Martin Luther King Jr. Way) Moe's (2476 Telegraph between Haste and Dwight). Four floors of mostly used books. Mama Bear's (6536 telegraph, Oakland). Feminist bookstore/coffeehouse. Limited selection. There's a better feminist bookstore in San Francisco called Old Wives' Tales. O'Neil Book Co. (1150 Sixth Street, one block north of Gilman, 510-527-9855). Great selection of remaindered books. "I was told about this by one of the proprietors of The Other Change Of Hobbit, who thinks most highly of it." Pegasus Books (1855 Solano). Pendragon Books (5560 College Avenue, Oakland). Pegasus and Pendragon are owned by the same management. Both of them stock primarily used books, remaindered books and recent releases. Revolution Bookstore (2425 Channing Way). In a mini-mall between Durant and Channing Way off Telegraph; underneath building on west side of Telegraph--the same mall as Other Change of Hobbit and Dave's Smoke Shop. Serendipity (University Ave one block east of San Pablo). A warehouse full of first editions and rare books. Used books. "One of the Bay Area's finest, but they know books and there are few bargains there. Also worth a visit just to admire some very fine woodworking in their bookcases and cabinets." Shambhala (2482 Telegraph next to Moe's). Excellent source for books on Eastern religion and other forms of mysticism. New books. Shakespeare and Company (2499 Telegraph). University Press Bookstore (across from the intermural athletic center, 2430 Bancroft). Walden Pond (3316 Grand Avenue between Lake Park and Mandana), in Oakland. Distinct from Waldenbooks, a used and new bookstore. They have a particularly good selection of international writers (in translation) and radical literature and magazines. Magazines: Dave's Smoke Shop (2444 Durant). In the indoor shopping passage between Durant and Channing Way just west of Telegraph; same mini-mall as Other Change of Hobbit and Revolution Books). The periodical selection in there used to be amazing. They even had Pravda (untranslated). Howeverm they have recently changed ownership and the selection has become somewhat smaller. Whether this is a permanent change is anyone's guess. De Lauers (Oakland, about 3 blocks away from Holmes Bookstore) "This place is open 24 hours a day, and has the widest selection of newspapers and magazines that I've EVER seen in one place." OTHER: Corte Madera: Book Passage. Written up in the 9/21/92 issue of PUBLISHERS WEEKLY. Over 9000 sq. ft. of books, including a 3200-sq.ft. section devoted to mystery and science fiction and a rare and used book department. The store also carries titles in French, Spanish, and German, and has a cafe in the back. (Corte Madera is in Marin County, across the Golden Gate Bridge.) Menlo Park: East West Books (1170 El Camino). "A complete New Age book shop, with sections on herbalism, metaphysics, aromatherapy, shamanism, inner healing.... Also cards, incense, crystals, gongs, and other Aquarian doodads. This is the sort of thing that people who like this sort of thing will like." Kepler's (821 El Camino Real) (new). One of the two stores in the Bay area I hold up as the definition of the term 'bookstore." Special emphasis on alternative and progressive titles. Has regular in-person programs, often featuring important authors. Wessex (558 Santa Cruz half-block off El Camino) (used). A truly delightful place. They have a large selection of used books in wonderful condition and at good prices. They seem to have a little bit of everything although the Science Fiction and Mystery sections are somewhat limited. They don't keep late hours, but are open Sunday afternoons. The best used bookstore on the peninsula. Their other claim to fame: Classical, Jazz and Blues used records. Wonderful place! Palo Alto: Bell's (536 Emerson) (used). In terms of selection good. Great for book collectors. "Unfortunately much of their stock is out of reach on high shelves, which can be frustrating. They also shelve their fiction books in three layers, so you have to create little temporary piles on the floor as you mine for books. Great place!" People used to complain that they often changed the price on the book when you bring it up to the register (so that for a book marked $3 they might say, "Sorry, that's $7.50 now"), but someone recently reported that they had stopped doing this because it pissed off too many customers. Closed Sundays. Bob and Bob (151 Forest Ave). Judaica. Closed Saturdays. The Book Buyers (504 Emerson). A good general used book store. Books, Inc. (Stanford Shopping Center). Has a good paperback selection. All books are new and there are about a dozen tables of marked-down books. The staff is okay, not as friendly as at Phileas Fogg's (see below). Chimaera (University near High--yes, new address!). Excellent mostly used bookstore specializing in well-selected literary and humanities titles. Also good selection of used records, cassettes, and CDs, especially for classical, jazz, and progressive rock. Future Fantasy (3705 El Camino). SF/F/H/Mystery Know Knew Books (on California) (used). A good spot for used paperbacks, SF and general. A good selection of hard cover fiction and non-fiction as well. Megabooks (444 University Avenue near Waverly). Good general used bookstore which often has real bargains on recent cook books. Phileas Fogg (Stanford Shopping Center). Good travel bookstore, helpful staff. Printers Inc. (310 California) (new). Smaller than Kepler's, but more personal, with a cafe in the bookstore (a recent trend in bookstores). Though they have recently expanded, the bookshop itself is as friendly and personal as ever. The cafe is also larger but (as one poster says) "I'm afraid, much less cosy and intimate than before. One positive result of the expansion is that the cafe section no longer closes during readings by authors and poets." Good selection of foreign papers. The same poster writes, "My favourite weekly ritual is to cycle from work to Printer's Inc., pick up my reserved copy of the [Toronto] "Globe and Mail," and peruse it over a cup of dark French roast coffee with the buzz of conversation in the background. A very pleasant and civilized way to spend an otherwise dull Tuesday evening." Renaissance Books (Hamilton near Emerson). Another used bookstore, specially good for its huge collection of very cheap popular fiction -- mysteries, gothic, science fiction, etc. (Used to be Recycle Books.) Sports Central: The Ultimate Sports Bookstore (157 Stanford Shopping Center, 415-327-7707). 7000 titles, as well as audio and video tapes, and a few accessories, but no memorabilia or used books. Thursday night lecture series. (Written up in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, 10/5/92). Stacey's (new). Technical books. Stanford Univ. Bookstore (on the Stanford Campus). The largest bookstore in the Bay Area. It's the most likely place to find a new book. Their inventory is available on the network for people who have the right accounts. There's also a branch on University Avenue in Palo Alto which specializes in technical books. Szwede Slavic Books (2233 El Camino, (415) 327-5590). Good selection of Polish books, among others. Los Altos: Heintzelman's Bookstore (205 State Street) (new). Packed to the roof with a large selection of books. The owners were friendly, helpful, and well-read. Mountain View: Printers Inc. (301 Castro Street) (new). More cramped and cluttered than the Palo Alto store. San Antonio Hobby Shop (San Antonio Shopping Center, (415-941-1278)) Amazing selection of new books on aircraft, trains and ships (warships, mostly). They have many hard-to-find and imported titles. Tower Books (El Camino and San Antonio) Los Gatos: Curious Book Shoppe (the corner of N. Santa Cruz and Main St) (used). Campbell: Poor Pat's (1800 South Bascom Ave). Used. San Jose: Books, Inc. (new) Recycle Books (Santa Clara Street). They have a pretty decent general selection. Science fiction books are a strong point, but philosophy books are a weak spot. Santa Cruz: (There are a number of bookstores in Santa Cruz. All three of the bookstores that previously resided on the Pacific Garden Mall were damaged to a greater or smaller extent during the '89 earthquake. Logos has reopened in a permanent location; the other two have not, at least as far as I have heard.) ? (across from Caffe Pergolesi on Center Street). A used bookshop, great for philosophy, religion, some rare stuff too, but small. Book-Cafe (41st Ave in Capitola). New books only. Good selection of magazines. Probably has the bests selection of audio books and literary magazines in Santa Cruz. Also has a small coffee-shop inside. Book Loft (next to the Rio Theatre on Soquel Drive). Used books only. Bookshop Santa Cruz (in the old St. George Hotel on the Pacific Garden Mall). A Santa Cruz tradition. Moved to this location from their tents 10/92. Gateways (a block from Logos/Plaza in the old Great Outdoors Outlet). A venerable Santa Cruz institution, with twice the space of its old location and a small cafe. It is primarily known for new-age, metaphysics, self-help, etc. Logos (has re-opened in a new building at its *old* location on the Pacific Garden Mall). Two full floors of books, used records, and used CDs. Can be thought of as Santa Cruz's answer to Moe's in Berkeley. "It is this bibliophile's opinion that Logos has *the* best used book selection (in Santa Cruz, the center of the Universe). You can get the same book (used) here you can get in Capitola for 1/2 price (new)." Plaza Books (damaged in the '89 quake, but not destroyed. On Cedar half a block from Walnut--also described as right next door to Logos). New books only. Plaza Books has the best tee-shirts, post-card books, and greeting cards, by far beating out any of the more "touristy" places. Cupertino: A Clean Well-Lighted Place For Books (The Oaks Shopping Center, across Steven's Creek Boulevard from de Anza College and the Flint Centre). Recently moved within the shopping center. The new shop, though much bigger, is not visible from the street. A Wrinkle in Time (19970 Homestead Road, 408-255-9406). New and used SF, comics, videos, games, and collectibles. San Leandro: Roskie and Wallace Bookstore (14595 E 14th). "This is a rather unique used book store. The prices are quite cheap by Bay Area standards, the collection is huge, though not as organized as some stores. In fact, it's kind of like a cross between a bookstore and a rummage sale. It's not usually a place to go looking for something specific, but it's a browser's heaven - you're guaranteed to find something unique, something you'd never even think of, let alone find in another bookstore." Open Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 10 AM to 4 PM. Concord: Barnes & Noble (near where Willow Pass intersects I-680). Formerly Bookstar, it has a noteworthy selection of new books. Pacifica: Florey's. Forey's stocks a good supply of books, and Mrs. Florey is very accomodating. As for truly NORTHERN California, there *was* an excellent used book store on the main drag in Ferndale, which has been closed indefinitely because of damage from the 4/25/92 quakes. [Someone keep me informed if/when it reopens.] Their branches in Eureka (which has an excellent music selection) and in Arcata are still open. Eureka has another good store, located on the square with the ugly modern fountain in the historic part of town. Arcata also has the Tincan Mailman (on G or H street, a couple of short blocks north of the town square), a used book store with a large selection, cosy but not cramped. Someone else notes in Sacramento (definitely out of the "northern" California range, but what the heck) is The Book Mine (916-441-4609). He's not sure what their specialty is, but he was referred to them for a train book he was looking for. Evelyn C. Leeper | +1 908 957 2070 | ecl@mtgzy.att.com