The Bookstore Quest background
It's been over two years since I started my goal to visit every independent bookstore in San Francisco and to write about them. As much as I love the seemingly unlimited selection and bargain prices that big chain retailers have to offer, I have a special place in my heart for the little, locally owned bookstores.
Back to the Quest...
Admittedly, I've somewhat neglected my Bookstore Quest over the past couple of years because of busy schedules and lack of time. However when Bay Books in Concord (one of my favorite used bookstores) closed down after over 20 years, I was heartbroken and determined to start my quest where I left off.
So far, I have visited:
Borderlands specializes in sci-fi, fantasy, and horror books. I don't normally follow these genres, but I couldn't help but go inside the store for a quick peek. The store has a reputation for selling a carefully chosen selection and its customers seem to appreciate it. I was only in the store for a few minutes, but I stayed long enough to overhear a conversation between two employees and a customer about a new book that came out. The conversation was passionate and well-informed. Bravo! I love it when bookstore employees actually know and care about what they're selling. These casual discussions between employees and customers show a dedication to customer service that bigger book retailers can't give.
The mission statement on their website begins: "We love books. They're our friends. Good books and bad books, 1st editions and beat up paperbacks. We love how they smell, how they feel, and the way they sound when you open them (A customer once said that he liked how they tasted. . . we watch him very carefully when he's in the store)." Right on.
Price: New books are retail price.
Selection: Specializes in fantasy, horror, and sci-fi.
Service: Employees are friendly and love to talk with customers.
Atmosphere: Warm, welcoming, and rather magical.
It's been over two years since I started my goal to visit every independent bookstore in San Francisco and to write about them. As much as I love the seemingly unlimited selection and bargain prices that big chain retailers have to offer, I have a special place in my heart for the little, locally owned bookstores.
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| My bumper sticker. Some people eat local, I read local. |
Why I Love Independent Bookstores
I love the little handwritten cards on book shelves with doodles on them and staff recommendations that go beyond the New York Bestseller List.
I love shop owners who know their customers by name.
I love a small but carefully considered selection of books that caters perfectly to its customers' tastes.
I love friendly employees who know their stock well and can thoughtfully recommend something fun or off-beat that would interest you.
I love opening an old book and finding someone else's bookmark or receipt tucked in between pages.
I love finding old books with worn covers and dog-eared pages that show the book has been loved and reread countless times.
Back to the Quest...
Admittedly, I've somewhat neglected my Bookstore Quest over the past couple of years because of busy schedules and lack of time. However when Bay Books in Concord (one of my favorite used bookstores) closed down after over 20 years, I was heartbroken and determined to start my quest where I left off.
So far, I have visited:
- Green Apple Books on 6th and Clement
- Forever After Books on Haight Street (which has since gone out of business; click on review to see why it wasn't a big surprise)
- City Lights Books on Columbus
- Booksmith on Haight Street
Borderlands Books on Valencia
Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror Bookstore
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| From SanFranciscoDays.com |
Borderlands specializes in sci-fi, fantasy, and horror books. I don't normally follow these genres, but I couldn't help but go inside the store for a quick peek. The store has a reputation for selling a carefully chosen selection and its customers seem to appreciate it. I was only in the store for a few minutes, but I stayed long enough to overhear a conversation between two employees and a customer about a new book that came out. The conversation was passionate and well-informed. Bravo! I love it when bookstore employees actually know and care about what they're selling. These casual discussions between employees and customers show a dedication to customer service that bigger book retailers can't give.
The mission statement on their website begins: "We love books. They're our friends. Good books and bad books, 1st editions and beat up paperbacks. We love how they smell, how they feel, and the way they sound when you open them (A customer once said that he liked how they tasted. . . we watch him very carefully when he's in the store)." Right on.
Price: New books are retail price.
Selection: Specializes in fantasy, horror, and sci-fi.
Service: Employees are friendly and love to talk with customers.
Atmosphere: Warm, welcoming, and rather magical.
Modern Times Books on Valencia
"A progressive resource for the Bay Area-- A Neighborhood Bookstore for the Mission"
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| From MissionLocal.org |
Modern Times has a bright and open layout with plenty of space for organized its bookshelves. Modern Times has a notably local and personal atmosphere. From the first glance at the its book selection, you feel called into action to change the world. While they have books from many different genres, they specialize in global, political, and social discourse. It's the kind of place you can go for a lively discussion or debate on how the world should be. From what I noticed, their prices matched the original marked retail prices. So if you're going to buy a book anyway, why not support a local bookstore?
Price: New books are retail price.
Selection: Special focus on social change.
Selection: Special focus on social change.
Service: I only spent about ten minutes in there but I didn't have anyone approach me to ask if I needed help, nor did I see anyone else approached by an employee. I suppose their style is to let people explore on their own and help people only when they ask for it.
Atmosphere: Clean, organized.
Dog Eared Books (also) on Valencia
Eclectic and Local
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| From SanFranciscoDays.com |
I suppose the best way I could describe Dog Eared Books is intimate and eclectic. It is the largest of its three associated bookstores in the Bay Area, in addition to Phoenix Books and Red Hill. I'll just add on what I write for my Yelp review of Dog Eared:
Any true book lover walking by can't pass up the chance to take a peek inside. Although the selection is rather limited due to space, the books they do have are well chosen. Also, they're fairly inexpensive compared to the other neighboring bookstores Modern Times and Borderlands. The discount cart of books on the sidewalk are all less than $5 I think. Many of the books inside are almost half off of the original retail price.
Price: Bargain.
Selection: Excellent. Check out the section on local interest.
Price: Bargain.
Selection: Excellent. Check out the section on local interest.
Service: Friendly and welcoming. Employees go out of their way to help customers find what they need.
Atmosphere: Cozy, intimate and retro-vintage cool.
Atmosphere: Cozy, intimate and retro-vintage cool.