Independent Bookstores of San Francisco
For readers, San Francisco is a city of independent bookstores. While independents are struggling in the rest of the nation, a number are alive and well in San Francisco, including famous stores like Green Apple and City Lights. Browsing a bookstore (or two) is an awesome way to while away an afternoon, pick up some new reading material, and accrue a list of books to purchase in the future. I rarely leave one of San Francisco's independent bookstores without an armload of books to lug back across the city on MUNI.
Most of the bookstores in San Francisco have regular author events, which often host very well known authors. There's an author event I want to attend somewhere in the city almost every day. Many of the bookstores in San Francisco have websites where you can check for event listings and order books. For a complete list of bookstores in San Francisco, you can check out the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association, a trade organization for independent bookstores.
You can also visit some of the city's classic bookstores, starting with City Lights (261 Columbus Avenue). City Lights was founded in 1953 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin (yes, that Ferlinghetti), and is a publishing house in addition to a bookstore. City Lights is a great place to find obscure or interesting books, meet dedicated staff, and get a small taste of San Francisco history. It's also only a few blocks away from the TransAmerica pyramid and the rest of downtown.
Green Apple Books (506 Clement Street) is another must-visit for book lovers. Green Apple sells and buys used books and music, and the staff have an unerring taste for excellent literature. Wandering the stacks is a field trip across continents, and I firmly believe that something for everyone can be found at Green Apple.
Cover to Cover (1307 Castro Street) is a friendly neighborhood bookstore in Noe Valley with a large children's selection, comfortable chairs, and awesome staff. It's hard to resist while wandering down the street on a sunny day, and the staff is always happy to acquaint you with books that meet a wide variety of tastes. Cover to Cover has been in business since 1976 in a variety of locations, and when it was threatened with closure in 2003, the entire neighborhood rose up to save it.
Black Oak Books (630 Irving Street) is another Bay Area landmark, well known for selling rare and unusual antiquarian books as well as a fine selection of used books. In addition to having a great in-store selection, Black Oak is also very good at finding “unfindable” books, and the staff loves a challenge. Visit the store to browse the collection on the shelves, chosen with an excellent eye for quality, or to ask the staff to track down a memorable book from your past.
San Francisco is also host to a branch of Cody's Books (2 Stockton Street), another Bay Area favorite which actually got its start in Berkeley. While the flagship Telegraph Avenue store was forced to close in 2006, Cody's has a lively branch on Stockton Street near Union Square with a friendly staff and great selection. Browsers should be warned that Cody's should not be visited shortly before an appointment downtown, or you will be late, surfacing hours later with a stack of eclectic books and wandering where the day went.
Why buy independent?
Because independent bookstores are an integral part of their communities. In addition to hiring within the community, they keep money within their communities by spending locally. Most donate to charitable causes, support literacy projects, and offer educational series to enrich their neighborhoods. An independent bookseller is committed to excellent, loving service, providing individualized care to customers whether they live in San Francisco for a weekend or a lifetime, spend hundreds of dollars every week or only buy a book a month. They are also on the frontlines of free speech activism: most independents carry a wide selection of books including banned and controversial titles, and do not ever hand over information about their customers. Independent owners are usually onsite in their stores, and ready to answer questions about stock or offer reading recommendations, just like their staff. An independent bookstore offers you a unique experience, and allows you to get a greater sense of the character of the place you're in.
