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Find indy bookstores close to home. Go to booksense.com and enter a zip code.


California bookstores — alphabetical by city

Agoura Hills

A Novel Idea Books - 29054 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Agoura Hills, 91301. 818-706 9148.

Anaheim

Book Baron - 1236 S. Magnolia Avenue, Anaheim, 92804. 714-527-7022. Sells used and rare books. The Book Baron also has two other locations: 1310 E. Chapman, Fullerton, 92831; and 246 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, 90802.

Berkeley

Black Oak Books - 1491 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. 510-486-0698. New and used books. Also San Francisco branches at 630 Irving St. 415-564-0877; and 540 Broadway St. (415) 986-3872

Cody’s Books - 2454 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley. 510-845-7852. Second store at 1730 Fourth Street, Berkeley. 510-559-9500. General bookseller with a delightful low-tech service: bicycle book delivery to local customers. Sells books online, too.

Moe’s Books - 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 510-849-2087. General bookstore celebrating 80th year in business. Sells books online.

Beverly Hills

Dutton's Beverly Hills Books - 447 North Canyon Drive, Beverly Hills. 310-476-6263.

Bishop

Spellbinder of Bishop Books & Coffee - 124 S. Main St., Bishop, 93514. 760-873-4511.

Capitola

Capitola Book Cafe - 1475 41st Ave., Capitola, 95010. 831-462-4415.

Coronado

Bay Books - 1029 Orange Avenue, Coronado, 92118. 619-435-0070. Described as San Diego County’s largest independent bookstore.

Corte Madera

Book Passage - 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. 415-927-0960 or 800-999-7909. Hosts writing conferences and more than 400 author events a year. Sells books online.

Costa Mesa

Visions & Dreams - 2482 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa,  92627. 949-646-7246. Metaphysical bookstore.

Del Mar area

Book Works - 36 Rancho Del Mar Center, Aptos, 95003. 831-688-4554. Books, cards and gifts.

Fresno

Fig Garden Bookstore - 5094 N. Palm Ave., Fresno. 559-226-1845. Friendly, locally-owned bookstore with a focus on California subjects.

Fullerton

Book Baron - 1310 E. Chapman, Fullerton, 92831. 714-526-5913. Sells used and rare books.

Garden Grove

Coffee, Tea & Mystery - 11191 Valley View St., Garden Grove. 714-898-CLUE.

Gilroy

The Wize Owl - 8060 #110 Santa Teresa Blvd., Gilroy, 95020. 408-848-9090.

Glendale

Abril Bookstore & Publishing - 415 E. Broadway Ave. Suite #102, Glendale, 91205. 818-243-4112. Armenian-language bookstore.

Mystery and Imagination Bookshop - 238 North Brand Blvd., Glendale. 818-545-0206. Specializes in mysteries.

Healdsburg

Toyon Books - 104 Matheson, Healdsburg, 707-433-9270

Julian

Books in Nook - 4336 Highway 78, P.O. Box 2273, Julian, 92036. 760-765-2852. Sells new books, cards and gifts.

Lafayette

Lafayette Book Store - 3579 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, 94549. 925-284-1233.

Laguna

Latitude 33 - 311 Ocean Avenue. 949-494-5403.

La Jolla

D.G. Wills Books - 7461 Girard Ave., La Jolla, 92037. 858-456-1800. General interest bookstore with an interest in Baja California, art and architecture books. Pannikin coffee house next door.

Warwick's -- 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla, 92037. 858-454-0347. Books, stationary, gifts, office supplies.

Lompoc

Read More Books - 1313 North H Street, Suite M, Lompoc, 93436. 805-737-1900. Full service bookstore with an extended children’s section.

Long Beach

Acres of Books - 240 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, 90802. 562-437-6980. "California's largest second-hand bookstore."

Cultura Latina Bookstore - 4125 Norse Way, Long Beach. 562-982-1515. Specializes in Latino culture, art, history and writers.

Los Angeles

Dutton’s Brentwood - 11975 San Vincente Boulevard, Los Angeles. 310-476-6263. Full-service bookstore, café, gift shop. Online bookseller.

Bodhi Tree Bookstore - 8585 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, 90069-5199. 310-659-1733. Books, Recorded Material, Spiritual Accessories, & Gifts.

Book Soup - 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 310-659-3110. General interest bookstore that boasts celebrity browsers. Online book sales.

Cook’s Library - 8373 W. 3rd Street. Los Angeles. 323-655-3141.

Eso Won Books - 3655 S LaBrea Ave. Los Angeles. 323-294-0324.

Heritage Book Shop - 8540 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 90069. 310-659-3674. Specializes in rare books and first editions. 310/209-0415; 800/821-9017.

J. Paul Getty Museum Bookshop - 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles. 310-440-7300. The Getty publishes its own collection. Online store.

The Mystery Bookstore - 1036-C Broxton Avenue Los Angeles. 310/209-0415; 800/821-9017.

Skylight books - 1818 N. Vermont Ave., LA. 323-660-1175. General interest bookstore in Los Feliz area. Sells books online.

Taschen Books - 354 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, 90212. 310-274-4300.

Travelers Bookcase - 8375 West Third Street,  Los Angeles, 90048.  323-655-0575. Dedicated to travel literature and guides.

Upstart Crow - Universal City Walk, 1000 Universal Studs Blvd, Universal Cty, 91608. 818-763-1811.

The Writers Store - 2040 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles, 90025. 866-229-7483 Books and screenplay writing software.

Malibu

Diesel Books - 3890 Cross Creek Rd., Malibu 90265. 310-456-9961. Oakland bookseller has opened a second shop, giving Malibu its own bookstore.

Mendocino

Gallery Books & Bookwinkle's Children's Books - PO Box 270, Main & Kasten Streets, Mendocino. 707-937-2665. Online bookseller.

Menlo Park

Kepler’s Books & Magazines - 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, 650-324-4321. One of the Bay Area’s oldest independents. Sells books online.

Montrose

Once Upon a Time Bookshoppe - 2284 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose, 818-248-9668. Family bookstore.

Oakland

Marcus Books - 3900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 510-652-2344.

Orange

Book Carnival - 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange. 714-538-3210. Specializes in mysteries.

Pacific Palisades

Village Books - 1049 Swarthmore Ave, Pacific Palisades, 90272. 310-454-4063.

Pasadena

Book Alley. 1252 E. Colorado Blvd. 626-683-8083. Sells new, used and rare books.

BOOK ’Em - 1118 Mission St., So. Pasadena. 626-799-9600. Specializes in mysteries.

Distant Lands - 56 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, 91105. 800-310-3220. Specializes in travel books.

Vroman’s - 695 E Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena. 626-449-5320; 800-769-BOOK. Branches: Vroman's Hastings Ranch, 3729 E. Foothill Blvd. 626-351-0828. Vroman's Bargain Books, 340 S. Lake Ave. 626-396-1670. With every sale, this established bookseller gives back one percent to community charities. Online bookshop.

Redondo Beach

Accessories To Murder - 903 S. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach. 310-792-0972. Specializes in mysteries.

Riverside

The Village Bookstore - 1299 University Ave., Suite 101, Riverside, 92507. 909-827-7716.

Sacramento

Beers Books - 915 S. Street, Sacramento, 95814. 916-442-9475. Offers new and used books.

Book Lovers - 5800 Madison Ave., Sacramento, 95841. 916-332-3133

San Diego

Mysterious Galaxy - 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., #302, San Diego. 800-811-4747. Specializes in mystery and speculative fiction.

Upstart Crow - 835 C West Harbor Drive, San Diego. (619) 232-4855.

San Francisco

Acorn Books - 1436 Polk Street, San Francisco, 94109. 415-563-1736. New and used books.

Black Oak Books - 630 Irving St. 415-564-0877 and 540 Broadway St. (415) 986-3872. New and used books.

The Booksmith - 1644 Haight Street, San Francisco. 1-800-493-7323. Online bookseller.

Borderlands Books - 866 Valencia Street, San Francisco, 94110. 415-824-8203. Features science fiction, fantasy, and horror books.

Christopher’s Books - 1400 18th Street, San Francisco. 415-255-8802.

City Lights Booksellers - 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco. 415-362-8193. San Francisco institution founded by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

A Clean Well-Lighted Place - 601 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco. 415-441-6670. Full service bookstore and online sales, too.

Cody's Books - 2 Stockton Street (between Market and O’Farrell streets near Union Square). Berkeley bookseller opens a new store in late summer 2005.

Green Apple Books - 506 Clement St., San Francisco, 94118. 415-387-2272. New and used books.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Bookstore - 151 Third St. SF. 415-357-4035. Cool browsing, plus a great way to support art and educational programs. Online store.

San Francisco Mystery Bookstore - 4175 24th St., San Francisco. 415-282-7444

San Jose

Willow Glen Books - 1330 Lincoln Ave., San Jose, 95125. 408-298-8141.

San Leandro

Gray Wolf Books - 14595 E. 14th St., San Leandro, 94578.

San Mateo

M is for Mystery - 86 East Third Ave., San Mateo. 650-401-8077.

San Pedro

Under the Bridge Bookstore and Gallery - 358 West 6th St., San Pedro,  90731. 310-519-8871.Offers a variety of Latino literature, used books, collectibles, and art by local artists.

Santa Ana

Libreria Martinez Books and Art Gallery - 1110 N. Main Street, Santa Ana. 714-973-7900. Bilingual bookstore with a children’s book shop next door.

Santa Cruz

Bookshop Santa Cruz - 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 831-423-0900; General interest bookstore, showcases homegrown writers. Online bookseller.

Santa Monica

Wilshire Books -- 3018 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 90403. 310-545-0400. New and used bookstore.

Sebastopol

Copperfield's Books - 138 N. Main St., Sebastopol, 95472. 707-823-2618.

Sylmar

Sabor de Nuestra Tierra Bookstore - 13782 Foothill Blvd., Suite 6, Sylmar, 91340. 818-833-1933. Specializes in multicultural and bilingual books for children ages 4-18. Also parenting literature.

Tia Chucha’s Cafe Cultural -- 12737 Glenoaks Blvd., #22, Sylmar, 818-362-7060. A bookstore, cafe, art gallery, performance space and computer center in the Northeast San Fernando Valley.

Solvang

Book Loft - 1680 Mission Drive, Solvang, 93463. 805-688-6010.

Thousand Oaks

Mysteries To Die For - 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. (805) 374-0084

Venice

Equator Books - 1103 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 90291. (310) 399-5544

Yosemite

Yosemite Bookstore - Yosemite National Park. 209-379-2646. Featuring titles about National Parks, the outdoors, history and natural history.


For additional general interest and specialty bookstores, visit the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association . Site lists stores by region.


Children’s Booksellers — by city

Irvine

A Whale of a Tale - 4199 Campus Drive, Suite A, Irvine, across from the UC Irvine campus. 949-854-8288. Well-stocked shop often features top children’s writers. Sells books online.

La Jolla

The White Rabbit - 7755 Girard Ave., La Jolla. 858-454-3518. Second store in Orange County’s South Coast Plaza Mall, 3333 Bristol St, Costa Mesa. 714-445-0010.

La Mesa

The Yellow Book Road - 8315 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, 91941. 619-463-4900. Children’s bookstore.

Long Beach

Once Upon A Story - 3740 E. Fourth St., Long Beach. 562-433-6856. A neighborhood children’s bookshop.

Los Angeles

Storyopolis - 116 North Robertson Blvd. Plaza Level A, Los Angeles. 310-358-2500. Children’s bookstore and gallery.

Torrance

Catch Our Rainbow - 3132 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance. 310-325-1081. Accepts online orders.

San Jose

Hicklebee’s - 1378 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose. 408-292-8880. Children’s center that also sells books online.

Chinaberry - The Chinaberry catalogue is more like a book magazine, chock full of hand-picked children’s literature and thoughtful reviews. The bare-bones online site doesn’t do Chinaberry justice. Email or call to get the real thing by snail mail. 800-776-2242.


Campus Bookstores

CSULB Bookstore - California State University, Long Beach. 562-985-7943

Stanford University Bookstore - White Plaza, Stanford. 650-329-1217 or 1-800-533-2670

UC Davis Bookstore - University of California Davis - 530-752-6846.

University of California Los Angeles BookZone - 308 Westwood Plaza, Ackerman Union B Level, Los Angeles. 310-206-4041.

UCR Bookstore - University of California Riverside - 909 787-4211.

UCSD Bookstore - University of California San Diego - 858-534-7323. 800-520-7323

UCSF Bookstore - University of California San Francisco - 1-800-846-2144. 415-476-1666.

UCSB Bookstore - University of California Santa Barbara - 805-893-3271.

Bay Tree Bookstore - University of California Santa Cruz - 831-459-4544

USC Bookstore - 840 Childs Way, Los Angeles. 213-740-BOOK


Other West Coast Bookstores

Powell's Books - 1005 W Burnside, Portland, OR; 503-228-4651 or 866-201-7601. One of the world's largest bookstores. Also sells books online.

Tattered Cover Bookstore - Cherry Creek Store, 2955 East First Avenue, Denver, CO. 303-322-7727. 1-800-833-9327.-800-833-9327

 


 

 
   
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